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THE  LIBRARY 


OF 


THE 
OF 


LOS 


Goosnargh  :  Past  and  Present. 


GOOSNARGH: 

PAST   AND   PRESENT. 

BY 

RICHARD    COOKSON, 

•  Author  of  "THE  GOOSNARGH  RAMBLER," 
"  NINE-HUNDRED  AND  NlNETY-NlNE  THOUGHTS," 
"  HOMELY  FIRE-SIDE  CHAT," 
&c.,  &c. 


"  When  found,  make  a  note  of."— 

CAPTAIN  CUTTLE. 

"  Every  book  is  a  quotation  ;  every  house  is  a  quotation, 
out  of  all  forests,  and  mines,  and  stone  quaries  ;  and 
every  man  is  a  quotation  from  all  his  ancestors." — 

R.  W.  EMERSON. 


PRESTON  : 

H.   OAKEY,    PRINTER,   CAXTON   HOUSE,  36,   FISHERGATE. 


MDCCCLXXXVIII. 


PRINTED   BY  HENRY  OAKEY,   36,  FISHERGATE,   PRESTON. 


PREFACE. 

G&3.C77 


BAVING  first  seen  the  light  of  day  in  the 
Township  of  Goosnargh  -  with  -  Newsham, 
and  resided  in  or  near  to  it  the  whole  of  my 
life,  and  served  several  public  offices  in  the  said 
Township,  and  known  something  of  the  manners 
and  customs  of  the  people ;  and,  moreover, 
having  a  liking  for  collecting  information  and 
imparting  the  same,  it  seemed  to  me  that  I 
might  gratify  my  scribbling  propensity,  and  at 
the  same  time  render  a  little  service  to  my 
native  place,  especially  to  the  young  and  rising 
generation,  by  noting  down  and  putting  in  print 
what  I  have  culled  from  various  sources,  and 
adding  some  of  my  own  observations  and  reflec- 
tions thereon. 


RICHARD   COOKSON. 


GOOSNARGH, 

JUNE  21,  1887. 


GOOSN ARGH : 


PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


THE  Township  of  Goosnargh-with-Newsham 
is  in  the  Parish  of  Kirkham  (but  ecclesias- 
tically Kirkham  has  now  no  claim  upon 
Goosnargh),  County  of  Lancaster,  Hundred  of 
Amounderness,  Union  of  Preston,  Diocese  of 
Manchester,  Archdeaconry  of  Lancaster,  Province 
of  York  ;  Judicially  in  the  Northern  Circuit.  It 
is  situate  between  53°  and  54°  north  latitude, 
and  2°  and  3°  west  longitude.  Goosnargh  village 
is  7  miles  N.  N.E.  of  Preston,  and  Newsham  is 
4^  rniles  N.  of  Preston. 

Townships  and  Hundreds  owe  their  origin  to 
King  Alfred.  A  township  or  tithery  was  so- 
called  because  ten  freeholders,  with  their  families, 
comprised  one,  and  each  of  these  had  originally 
a  church,  and  as  ten  families  of  freeholders  were 
a  town  or  township,  so  ten  townships  originally 
made  a  hundred,  consisting  of  ten  times  ten 
families. 

An  indefinite  number  of  hundreds  made  a 
county,  called  also  a  shire,  because  the  Govern- 
ment was  vested  in  the  sheriff.  Many  of  the 
hundreds  have  been  dismembered,  but  there  are 
yet  some  that  number  one  hundred  townships  ; 
Salford,  for  instance,  contained  exactly  that 
number. 


8  GOOSNARGH  : 

Hundreds  (Saxon)  supposed  to  have  been  di- 
vided into  a  hundred  manors,  and  to  have  ready 
for  keeping  the  peace  or  for  war  one  hundred 
men,  as  the  same  have  been  called  Wapentakes, 
because  at  a  meeting  they  touched  each  others 
weapons  in  token  of  fidelity  and  allegiance. 
Amounderness  Hundred  is  mentioned  as  having 
sixteen  villages,  and  the  rest  waste. 

The  Parish  of  Kirkham  contains  4i,736a.  2r. 
sop.,  and  its  bounds  were  marked  out  in  the  year 
636. 

Townships  are  often  named  from  ancient  own- 
ers or  lords,  or  from  the  situation  or  nature  of 
the  soil. 

HOW   BOUNDED. 

Goosnargh  is  bounded  on  the  south  by  the 
Township  of  Whittingham,  on  the  east  and 
south-east  by  the  Townships  of  Chipping  and 
Thornley,  on  the  north  by  the  Townships  of 
Bleasdale  and  Claughton,  and  on  the  north-west 
and  west  by  the  Townships  of  Bilsborrow  and 
Barton. 

DOMESDAY    BOOK. 

Of  the  antiquities  of  Goosnargh  the  reader 
must  not  expect  very  much,  for  however  import- 
ant the  inhabitants  of  Goosnargh  may  now  deem 
this  locality,  it  is  pretty  certain  that  it  remained 
almost  a  blank  for  nearly  3,000  years  after  the 
Mosaic  creation.  It  is  uncertain  at  what  period 
England  became  the  abode  of  man,  but  it  is  sup- 
posed that  it  was  about  1,000  years  before  the 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  9 

birth  of  our  Blessed  Saviour ;  and  turning  over 
the  scanty  pages  of  the  ancient  history  of  Britain 
we  find  that  about  55  years  B.C.  Caesar,  the  com- 
mander of  the  Roman  armies  in  Gaul  (France), 
resolved  on  attempting  a  conquest  of  this  country, 
then  called  Britannia,  which  was  inhabited  by 
rude  and  war-like  tribes,  who  were  chiefly  gov- 
erened  by  Priests,  called  Druids.  It  appears, 
however,  that  Goosnargh  was  not  inhabited  in 
the  year  485,  for  at  that  period  it  is  recorded 
that  "  the  land  between  Preston  and  Ribchester 
is  one  complete  line  of  forest."  And  dating 
from  the  invasion  of  Caesar,  as  above-mentioned, 
we  have  to  pass  over  many  years  before  even  the 
names  of  the  townships  of  this  locality  are 
honoured  with  a  place  in  history ;  and  again, 
from  the  circumstance  of  this  township  being  so 
centrally  -  situated  amongst  the  neighbouring 
towns — namely,  Preston,  Garstang,  Lancaster, 
and  Ribchester — and  also  from  the  absence  of 
any  of  the  old  Roman  roads  passing  through  it 
(though  one  through  Barton  skirts  it),  it  is 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  it  would  be  one  of 
the  last  districts  in  Lancashire  that  would  be- 
come inhabited ;  hence  it  is  not  the  place  for  the 
antiquary  to  pitch  his  tent  in.  It  appears  that 
William  the  Conqueror  (from  the  year  1080  to 
1085  inclusive),  made  a  survey  of  England  for 
the  purpose  of  compiling  his  memorable  Domes- 
day Book.  There  were  only  one  hundred  acres 
(exclusive  of  Newsham),  twenty-feet  to  the  perch 
(which  would  be  about  ninety-five  acres  of  seven 
yards  to  the  rod),  brought  under  cultivation  in 
Goosnargh. 

The  following  is  an  extract  of  so  much  of  the 


IO  GOOSNARGH  : 

survey  recorded  in  the  said  Domesday  Book  as 
relates  to  this  immediate  district : — 

"  Goosnargh,  one  carucate  (one  hundred  acres 
of  twenty-feet  to  the  perch)." 

"  Newsham,  one  carucate ;  the  rest  is  waste." 

Of  Goosnargh,  Baines,  who  wrote  in  1824, 
says  thus : — 

"  The  Chapelry  of  Goosnargh,  which  contains 
the  Townships  or  Hamlets  of  Goosnargh, 
Whittingham  and  Newsham,  each  main- 
taining its  own  poor,  though  it  appears 
part  of  the  Parish  of  Kirkham,  has  nearly 
lost  all  traces  of  any  connection  with  the 
mother  parish,  and  is  generally  considered 
a  distinct  parochial  district." 

GOOSNARGH    CHURCH. 

Goosnargh  is  an  "  ecclesiastical  district  with 
legally  defined  boundaries,"  namely,  the  lower 
division  of  Goosnargh  and  the  whole  of  the 
Township  of  Whittingham. 

From  the  time  of  the  suppression  of  the  mon- 
astries  (and  probably  earlier),  it  appears  to  have 
been  a  parochial  chapelry,  the  only  connection 
with  Kirkham  being  that  some  rates  were  paid 
to  the  mother  church,  though  the  liability  was 
often  disputed.  On  or  about  the  26th  January, 
1846,  without  discharging  Goosnargh  from  its 
liability  to  be  rated  by  Kirkham,  by  order  in 
Council,  the  present  limits  of  the  benefice,  with  the 
addition  of  Newsham  (separated  in  1849,  under 
the  Church  Building  Act,  i  and  2  William  IV., 
c.  4,  and  annexed  to  St.  Lawrence,  Barton),  were 
constituted  a  separate  benefice,  to  be  styled  the 


PAST    AND   PRESENT.  II 

"Perpetual  Curacy  of  Goosnargh."  It  is  stated 
in  the  document  from  which  the  above  is  taken 
that  previously  the  above  townships  had  never 
been  legally  assigned  as  a  district  to  Goosnargh 
Church. 

By  the  same  order  in  Council  the  patronage 
of  the  benefice,  which  had  hitherto  belonged  to 
the  Vicar  of  Kirkham,  was  transferred  to  the 
Dean  and  Chapter  of  Christ  Church,  Oxford. 

The  Perpetual  Curacy  is  now,  by  the  Act  of 
1868,  entitled  The  Vicarage  of  Goosnargh. 

Fishwick,  in  his  history  of  Goosnargh,  says  : — 
"  It  may  be  noted  that  the  annual  stipend  of  the 
Curate  of  Goosnargh  was  at  this  time,  1562,  only 
^"3  1 8s.,  paid  out  of  tithes,  and  that  he  had  no 
house  or  land." 

ANCIENT   LORDS    OP'    GOOSNARGH. 

It  is  said  the  first  lords  of  the  district  bore  the 
name  of  Goosnargh  (the  termination  "  argh  "  or 
"  ergh,"  which  forms  the  last  syllable  of  many 
local  names,  appears  to  be  the  Swedish  "  arf," 
or  ploughed  field,  and  from  the  Latin  "  arvum," 
so  that  Goosnargh  is  Goosefield  or  Goosegreen). 

We  find  that  one  Robert  de  Goosnargh  left  a 
daughter  and  co-heiress,  who  was  married  to 
Hugh  de  Mytton,  and  who  was  living  in  yth 
year  of  John.  Richard,  the  father  of  Richard  de 
Catterall,  married  Asota,  the  daughter  of  Jordan 
Mytton  Magna  ;  and  in  41  Henry  III.  (1257), 
either  the  father  or  son  was  seized  of  Goos- 
nargh. In  i6th  Edward  II.  (1323),  Alen  de 
Catterall  and  Lovetta,  his  wife,  called  "  love 
daughter,"  and  heiress  of  Richard  Purichardon, 


1 2  GOOSNARGH  : 

in  the  pedigree  given  by  Dr.  Whitaker,  held  in 
Goosnargh  one  messuage  —  eight  acres,  and 
twenty-shillings  rent — as  in  honour  of  Lancaster. 
In  yth  Richard  II.  (1384),  Edmund  Banastre's 
lands  were  escheated  to  the  Duchy.  Subsequently 
the  Cliftons,  of  Clifton,  now  of  Lytham,  held 
lands  here ;  for  Sir  William  de  Clifton,  who  died 
in  1442,  settled  lands  in  Goosnargh  and  Wood- 
plumpton  on  his  son  James.  In  8th  Henry  VII., 
John  Boteller,  of  Out  Rawcliffe,  held  half  a  knight's 
fee  in  Goosnargh  and  Whythyll-le-Woods  ;  and 
in  qth  Henry  VIII.  (1518),  William  Clifton  held 
a  sixth  part  of  a  knight's  fee  in  Goosnargh. 

Middleton  Hall,  in  the  I5th  century,  was  a 
seat  of  the  Singletons,  who  were  followed  by  the 
family  of  Rigby  ;  and  on  the  death  of  General 
Rigby  the  property  descended  to  William  Shawe, 
of  Preston  and  Fishwick,  who  died  in  1872  ;  and 
the  present  proprietor  is  the  son  of  the  late 
Townley  Rigby  Knowles,  Esq.,  of  Fishwick, 
Lancashire,  and  Gan,  Basses  Pyrenees,  France. 

In  1535  the  annual  value  of  Middleton  Hall 
estate  was  only  £2  los.  4d. 

DISTANCES   OF   NEIGHBOURING   PLACES   FROM 
INGLEWHITE   CROSS. 

Measuring  from  Inglewhite  Cross,  Goosnargh 
is  distant : — 

MILES.   YARDS. 

From  Garstang    6  39 

From  Preston       7|  272 

From  Chipping  church  gate      ...  6^  30 

From  Longridge  church  gate    ...  4!  210 

From  Longridge  railway  station  4^  113 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  13 

MILES.    YARDS. 

From  Ribchester  church  gate  ..  8  165 
From  Oakenclough  paper  mill 

bridge  5^  50 

From  Goosnargh  church  door  to 

Whitechapel  church  door       ...     3^     1 88 

POPULATION — EXTENT — VALUATION — TAXES. 

Population  of  Goosnargh-with-Newsham  from 
1801  to  1 88 1  : — 

1801 — 1558.  1811 — 1562.  1821 — 1852. 
1831 — 1844.  1841 — 1621.  1851 — 1454. 
1861  —  1307.  1871 — 1264.  1881  — 1197.* 

Being  a  decrease  of  655  from    1821    to  1881,  a 
period  of  60  years. 

This  extraordinary  decrease  is  attributable  to 
three  causes,  viz.  : — first,  the  introduction  of  the 
New  Poor  Law  and  the  giving  up  of  the  old 
workhouse ;  second,  the  decline  of  the  Cotton 
Hand-loom  Weaving  business  ;  third,  the  great 
change  in  the  system  of  Agriculture  from  arable 
to  grazing. 

EXTENT. 

STATUTE. 


Ordnance  Survey  

8,672 

R.      P. 

i     9 

Tithe  Commutation     

8,642 

3  23 

Overseers'  Books  

8,648 

i     8 

Wood-land  in  Goosnargh    ... 

H3 

3     » 

Wood-land  in  Newsham 

i 

3  24 

*  Previous  to  the  census  of  1801  there  existed  no  official  returns  of 
the  population  of  either  England,  Wales  or  Scotland,  and  the  earliest 
enumeration  of  Ireland  took  place  in  1813. 


14  GOOSNARGH  : 

VALUATION. 

£  S.      D. 

Valuation  of  Goosnargh       ...  11,391  5  o 

Valuation  of  Newsham M77  IO  ° 

Rental  of  Goosnargh    12,417  10  o 

Rental  of  Newsham      1,688  15  o 

TAXES   AND   TITHE    RENT   CHARGE. 

£       S.        D. 

Amount  of  Poor  Rates,  Goos- 
nargh (1884)  641  10  7^ 

Amount  of  Poor  Rates,  New- 
sham  (1884) 77  2  7 

By  a  bye-law  rates  are  laid  according  to  rents — 
this  is  neither  statute  law  nor  reason. 

Highway  Rates   (highest   rate  known   to  be 
collected,  6d.  in  the  £  ;  lowest,  ^d.  in  the  £.} 

£     s.     D. 

House  Duty  (1884)    u    16     3 

Property  Tax  (1884)— 

Owners,    ^"273     i    u 

Occupiers,  £ 1 6  15     7 — 289  17     6 

Income  Tax  (1884)     10  19     9 

Tithe  Rent  Charge  (1885)— 

Goosnargh -with -Newsham  ...   558     9     8 

Let  for  1843  ^285. 
Land  Tax,  redeemed,  ^47    2  10; 

not  redeemed 54  10     6 

The  land  tax  was  first  enforced  by  King 
Ethelred,  A.D.  991,  and  was  for  a  long  time 
considered  temporary;  but  in  the  year  1798  it 
was  made  perpetual,  subject  to  redemption  or 
purchase.  The  rate  of  purchase  depends  on  the 
value  of  money  in  the  funds. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT.  .  15 

LORD  OF  THE  MANOR. 

The  Right  Honourable  Lord  de  Tabley  was 
formerly  the  reputed  Lord  of  the  Manor,  and 
claimed  and  collected  tolls  at  Inglewhitefairs^. 
according  to  the  following  tableT^ 

D. 
For  every  stall  or  stand  erected  on  the 

"Green"       ...     6 

For  every  score  of  sheep   or  lambs  (paid 

by  the  purchaser) 10 

For  every  horse  or  head  of  horned  cattle 
sold        2 

In  the  year  1854  the  tolls  amounted  to  ^"4, 
but  are  now  much  less ;  but  at  some  period  they 
must  at  least  have  been  worth  ^"30  per  annum, 
for  in  the  land  tax  assessment  they  are  entered 
in  the  column  "  exonerated,"  and  charged  eight 
shillings  a  year. 

A  story  has  credence  here,  viz. :  That  the  Lord 
of  the  Manor  ought  to  keep  a  free  bull  and  stal- 
lion in  the  township ;  and  it  is  said  he  formerly 
kept  a  bull  for  the  use  of  the  township  in  Wood- 
field,  Higher  Barker,  and  after  three  years'  run 
the  bulls  were  baited  on  Inglewhite  Green. — If 
the  "  baiting  "  was  as  ne'lessiiiy  as  ClieTceeping, 
then  I  say  away  with  both  of  them. 

A  few  years  ago  the  Lordship's  right  of  tolls 
and  chief  rents  were  sold  to  Mr.  Richard  Bailey, 
and  have  again  changed  hands. 

The  undermentioned  estates  in  Goosnargh  are 
subject  to  the  following  a  chief  rents,"  payable 
to  the  Lord  of  the  Manor. 


1 6  GOOSNARGH  : 

£     S.  D. 

Goosnargh  Lodge         o     3  4 

Higher  Beesley     o     3  6 

Beesley o     o  6 

T.  Butler  Cole's  Land o     4  o 

T.  Butler  Cole's  Land         o     3  o 

Inglewhite  Lodge         o  10  o 

Brook    o     8  o 

Longridge  Chapel  Land      o     3  8 

New  House 012  2 

Higher  Crombleholme  Fold       ...  o     o  9 


8  ii 


INGLEWHITE  AND  INGLEWHITE  FAIRS. 

The  principal  fair  for  horned  cattle  is  held  on 
Monday  and  Tuesday  in  Rogation-week.  This 
fair  is  of  very  ancient  standing  and  considerable 
note,  being  at  one  time  the  only  cattle  fair  with- 
in many  miles,  and  was  formerly  called  by  our 
southern  neighbours  "  Inglewhite  Bull  Fair  i'th 
North,"  but  owing  to  so  many  new  fairs  having 
been  established  in  the  neighbourhood,  it  is  of 
course  not  so  important  as  of  yore.  It  is  yet 
however  one  of  the  most  considerable  fairs  in 
the  district. 

The  inhabitants  of  Inglewhite  village  for  very 
many  years  claimed  to  have  a  charter  under  an 
ancient  statute,  and  exercised  the  privilege  of 
selling  ale  and  porter  without  license  during  the 
fair  days.  The  prerogative,  it  was  said,  extended 
to  all  houses  within  the  toll-bars,  and  was  former- 
ly carried  to  an  incredible  extent,  no  less  than 
fifteen  private  houses  being  opened  for  that  pur- 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.      .  IJ 

pose  in  the  lifetime  of  the  writer  of  this  book  ; 
but  "the  charter"  being  disputed,  it  was  found 
to  have  no  foundation,  or  had  been  lost,  and  the 
custom  is  now  obsolete. 

There  is  a  stone  obelisk  upon  The  Green, 
standing  upon  a  pedestal  of  five  steps,  in  form 
something  like  the  one  that  formerly  stood  in 
Preston  old  market  place,  but  upon  a  much 
smaller  scale,  bearing  the  initials  H.C.I.W.  and 
the  date  1675  (the  latter  two  initials  no  doubt 
refer  to  Mr.  Justice  Warren),  erected  it  is  saici 
by  the  lord  of  the  manor,  and  formerly  used  as  a 
market  cross. 

Inglewhite  was  at  one  time  of  some  note  as  a 
place  of  manufacture,  both  of  silks  and  cottons, 
by  water  power,  but  fell  into  disuse  from  70  to 
80  years  ago,  owing  to  the  insufficient  supply  of 
water,  the  great  distance  from  coal,  and  the  intro- 
duction of  steam  power  into  other  mills.  The 
buildings  which  were  formerly  used  for  that  pur- 
pose are  partially  pulled  down  and  partially  used 
for  other  purposes. 

As  recently  as  1819  this  ^ir  (to  the  disgrace 
of  the  authorities  of  the  place,  be  it  said),  was  held 
on  a  Sunday,  on  which  day,  trading  in  cattle 
was  much  more  extensively  carried  on  than  it  is 
now  on  Monday,  the  head  fair  day.  All  the 
publicans  and  "bye-brewers"  kept  their  houses 
open  for  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors,  without 
let  or  hindrance.  There  were  also  in  attendance 
a  goodly  supply  of  gentlemen  of  "honour,"  with 
their  gaming  tables,  lucky-bags,  &c.,  and  the 
Green  was  as  it  were  the  focus  of  the  scum  and 
dregs  of  all  the  neighbouring  district ;  but  owing 
to  the  worthy  exertions  of  the  Reverend  Robert 


I  8  GOOSNARGH  : 

Shuttleworth,  of  Barton  (then  minister  of  Goos- 
nargh  Church),  aided  by  the  neighbouring  mag- 
istrates, these  disgraceful  proceedings  were  in  a 
few  years  put  an  end  to.  Thanks  to  the  Ingle- 
white  Fair  reformer. 

The  space  called  The  Green  measures  about 
one  customary  acre,  and  is  the  property  of  the 
Lord  of  the  Manor. 

Of  Inglewhite,  Baines,  in  his  History  of  Lan- 
cashire, says : — 

"  Inglewhite,  in  the  Township  of  Goosnargh- 
with-Nevvsham,  6  miles  S.E.  of  Garstang. 
A  market  cross  stands  in  the  centre  of 
the  Green,  and  tradition  represents  this  to 
have  been  a  market  town.  A  great  fair 
is  held  here  annually  on  Tuesday  in  Ro- 
gation-week ;  also  a  fair  for  sheep  on  the 
25th  April,  and  a  fair  for  calves  on  the 
5th  October." 

It  is  said  that  owing  to  the  mossy,  swampy 
land  which  adjoins  the  west  side  of  the  Green, 
Inglewhite  was  once  famous  for  the  ignis-fatuus — 
a  moving,  whitish  fire — vulgarly  called  "  Will- 
with-the-Wisp  "  and  "  Jack-with-the-Lantern," 
from  which  it  is  probable  that  Inglewhite  had  its 
name.  Ingle  being  another  name  for  fire,  so  by 
transposition  we  have  Firewhite  or  Inglewhite. 

GREAT   TITHES. 

Up  to  the  year  1850  the  great  tithes  were  taken 
in  kind,  and  were  that  year  (including  the  small 
tithes  and  Easter  dues  of  Newsham),  let  by 
public  auction  for  £260  los.  od.,  and  the  com- 
mutation rent  charge,  which  was  agreed  upon  in 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  19 

the  same  year  (including  Easter  dues  ^"5,  which 
are  now  obsolete),  were  put  down  at  ^600  per 
annum. 

The  township  was  surveyed,  valued  and  appor- 
tioned for  the  purpose  of  commutation,  and 
the  expenses  thereof  were  defrayed  by  the  land- 
holders. The  said  survey  and  book  of  reference 
are  lodged  with  the  Vicar  of  Goosnargh  for  the 
time  being. 

Up  to  1850,  as  above,  the  tithes  of  this  town- 
ship were  claimed  by  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of 
Christ  Church,  Oxford ;  they,  however,  kept  the 
Chancel  of  Goosnargh  Church  in  repair,  and  paid 
to  the  officiating  minister  of  Goosnargh  Church 
^"18  IDS.  od.  a  year.  Whitechapel  at  that  time 
was  left  out  in  the  cold. 

Since  the  year  1850  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of 
Christ  Church  have  made  a  more  sensible  and 
liberal  distribution  of  the  Goosnargh  tithe  rent 
charge.  They  now  grant  to  the  Vicar  of  Goos- 
nargh tithe  rents  amounting  to  ^139  14$.  4d. 
gross,  and  to  the  Vicar  of  Whitechapel  ^"93 
us.  qd.  a  year. 

The  tithe  rents  of  Newsham,  amounting  to 
^"34  33.  9d.  a  year,  now  belong  to  the  Vicar  of 
St.  Lawrence  Church,  Barton  (for  the  time  being  j, 
having  been  purchased  in  the  year  1878,  with 
^"695  IDS.  od.,  funds  belonging  to  the  said 
Vicarage, 

ORIGIN    OF   TITHES. 

So  far  as  I  have  been  enabled  to  gather,  the 
following  is  the  ancient  statute  of  tithes : — 

"Let  the  priests  receive  the  tithes  of  the  people, 
and  keep  a  written  account  of  all  that  have  paid 
B  2 


2O  GOOSNARGH : 

them,  and  divide  them  in  the  presence  of  such  as 
fear  God,  according  to  canonical  authority.  Let 
them  set  apart  the  first  share  for  the  repairs  and 
ornaments  of  the  Church,  let  them  distribute  the 
second  to  the/oor  and  stranger  with  their  own 
hands,  in  mercy  and  humility,  and  reserve  the 
third  part  for  themselves." — State  Paper. 

The  Oxford  title,  by  which  the  tithes  are  held, 
was  a  grant  from  the  Crown.  Henry  the  VIII., 
of  notorious  memory,  swayed  the  sceptre  with 
his  iron  hand,  seized  upon  all  tithes,  and  distri- 
buted them  as  whim  or  interest  dictated.  The 
tithes  of  the  Parish  of  Kirkham  (of  which  Goos- 
nargh-with-Newsham,  as  before-mentioned,  was 
a  part),  were  then  given  to  the  Dean  and  Chapter 
of  Christ  Church,  as  above. 

The  "Tithe  Question"  is  here,  as  well  as  else- 
where, a  very  fruitful  source  of  discontent  and 
disaffection  in  the  Established  Church,  so  much 
so,  indeed,  that  many  of  her  staunch  friends  and 
attached  members  wish  to  see,  and  are  looking 
forward  to  the  day  when  there  will  be  another 
and  a  very  different  appropriation  of  the  tithe 
funds.  And  without  at  all  being  desirous  of 
preaching  a  tithe  sermon,  or  writing  a  political 
descant  on  the  tithe  question,  may  I  just  be  allow- 
ed to  ask  one  high  and  broad  question  relative 
thereto  ? 

Supposing  all  the  tithes  that  now  belong  to 
the  Church  were  taken  from  her  and  applied  to 
the  educating  of  the  people,  and  supporting  of 
the  poor  (and  it  is  presumed  they  are  sufficient 
for  both),  would  the  Church  staff  be  a  whit  the 
less  efficient,  provided  only  the  revenues  of  the 
Church  were  judiciously  re-arranged? 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  21 

SMALL   TITHES   AND   EASTER   DUES. 

The  small  tithes  of  Goosnargh  were  collected 
for  the  last  time  in  the  year  1850,  and  amounted 
to  the  sum  of  ^41  i8s.  y^d. 

The  following  is  the  most  ancient  "Terrier" 
of  the  small  tithes  and  Easter  dues  I  have  met 
with,  and  though  it  has  ceased  to  be  of  use,  yet 
I  think  from  its  singularity  it  is  worthy  of  record, 
and  perhaps  will  some  day  be  looked  upon  as 
a  curiosity.  The  document  I  quote  from  bears 
the  date  1764,  and  is  as  follows: — 

The  underwritten  Easter  Roll  Tithe  is  taken 
from  an  original  copy  of  the  late  Barton  Parkin- 
son's, who  was  many  years  Clerk  to  the  Township 
of  Goosnargh,  as  the  same  hath  from  time  im- 
memorial been  accustomed  to  be  paid  for  Easter 
dues  and  small  tithes  within  the  said  township. 

THE    MANNER   OF   COLUMNING   THE   SAME. 

Household. — Every  householder  for  garden- 
herbs  (viz.),  Mint,  Annis  and  Cummin,  originally 
pays  3d. 

Hay. — According  to  the  proscription  and  an- 
cient custom  affixed  to  every  house,  id. 

Cows  and  Calves. — All  cows  having  their 
calves  living,  or  sold  for  veal  before  Martinmas 
last,  pays  for  : — 

s.     D. 

No.  i o     2 

No.  2     o    4 

No.  3     ...     o     7^ 

No.  4     o    9^ 

No.  5    ' 3 

No.  6     3 

No.  7     6 


22  GOOSNARGH  : 

And  for   every  succeeding   seven  add   the  first 
seven  to  the  last  seven,  thus: — 

s.    D.        s.    D.          s.  D. 

For  No.    8=  7+i    (  6     8  +  0     2  ) ...  6  10 

No.    9=  7  +  2   (6     8  +  0    4  ) ...  7  o 

No.  10=  7  +  3   (6     8  +  0     7j)...  7  3^ 

No.  11=  7+4  (6     8  +  0    9!)...  7  5^ 

No.  12=  7  +  5    (6     8  +   3     4  )...io  o" 

No.  13=  7  +  6   (6     8  +  3     6  )...io  2 

No.  14=  7  +  7    (6     8  +  6     8  )...i3  4 

No.  15=14+2    (13     4  +  0     2  )...i3  6 

Adding  in   like   manner   for   every   succeeding 
seven. 

Whites  (Drapes). — All  whites,  viz.  feeding 
kine  and  milk  kine,  one  cow  pays  i^d. ;  2,  3d.  ; 
3,  6d.  ;  4,  7|d. ;  5,  9d. ;  6,  is. 

Foals. — All  foals  pay  id.  each. 

Wool. — Wool  is  for  every  fleece  ^d. ;  five 
fleeces,  3d. ;  seven  fleeces,  6d.,  or  tenth. 

Lambs. — For  every  lamb,  id. ;  five  lambs, 
is.  3d. ;  seven  lambs,  2s.  6d.,  or  tenth,  if  not 
collected  in  kind  at  Michaelmas. 

Bees. — For  every  swarm,  id. ;  five  swarms,  6d; 
seven  swarms,  2s.,  or  tenth. 

Offerings. — All  householders,  if  married  coup- 
les, pay  3d.  ;  if  widower  or  widow,  i^d. 

Communicants. — All  single  persons  and  ser- 
vants, above  16  years  of  age,  jd. 

Pigs. — Pigs  are  collected  in  kind,  or  pay  for 
five  pigs,  is.  ;  seven  pigs,  2s. 

Geese. — Geese  are  collected  in  kind,  or  pay 
for  five  geese,  3d.  ;  seven  geese,  6d. 

Eggs. — Eggs  are  collected,  for  every  hen,  two 
eggs ;  for  every  duck,  two  eggs. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  23 

THE    HAMLET   OF   NEWSHAM. 

Population,  according  to  the  census  of  1 881,  76. 

A.  R.    p. 

Extent  (Ordnance  Survey)    ...     348  i   38 
Extent    (Tithe     Commutation 

Survey) 333  o     3 

Valuation    ^"i477   10     o* 

On  the  Hamlet  of  Newsham,  Baines  thus 
remarks : — 

"  The  Abbey  of  Cockersand  held  two  caru- 
cates  of  land  in  Newsham,  or  Newsom,  on 
account  of  which  a  claim  was  made  by 
John  the  Abbott  to  exemption  from  suit 
and  service  to  the  County  and  Wapen- 
take.  The  claim  is  without  date,  but  the 
validity  of  a  similar  claim  was  tried  in 
2oth  Edward  I.  (1292),  and  the  exemption 
allowed  as  to  Newsom.'' 

In  1 7th  Edward  II.  (1324),  William  de  Hol- 
land, of  Eukestone,  held  a  messuage,  lands,  and 
a  watermill  in  Newsom,  in  Amounderness.  The 
present  mill  is  thus  inscribed  : — 

I.W.     JOHN  WARREN. 
E.W.     ELIZABETH  WARRHN. 
1702. 

£       s.    D. 

Amount  collected  under  the 
head  of  Poor-rates  for  the  year 
ending  March  25th,  1884  ...  77  2  7 

*  This  includes  the  valuation  of  the  canal  and  railway. 


24  GOOSXARGH  : 

£       S.        D. 

Amount  of  Land  Tax — 

Redeemed    ...    -fz.    13     6^ ) 

TVT    j.  T>    j  j     r  i    t      I  I     I  ^      ° 

Not  Redeemed  ^519     5-|  j 
Amount  of  Tithe  Rent  Charge 

(1885)     34     3     9 

Amount  of  the  Rental     1688   15     o 

It  appears  that  when  the  Domesday  Book  was 
compiled,  Newsham  was  not  connected  with 
Goosnargh,  and  it  has  no  doubt  formerly  been 
a  part  of  some  other  township,  for  it  is  very  un- 
likely, originally,  to  have  been  a  distinct  town- 
ship. Townships  originally  consisted  of  ten 
titheries  (see  above),  each  tithery  containing  ten 
householders.  It  is  said  to  have  had  its  name 
from  the  name  of  one  of  its  ancient  lords,  or 
tithing  men,  who  resided  at  Newsham  Hall,  now 
a  farmhouse,  within  the  hamlet. 

How  long  Goosnargh  and  Newsham  have  been 
connected,  or  how  they  became  united,  is  not 
known,  but  in  all  existing  documents  that  can 
be  found  relating  thereto  (except  the  Domesday 
Book),  they  are  spoken  of  as  one  township,  and 
down  to  1850  they  were  so  for  all  purposes,  and 
are  yet  one  for  all  parochial  uses;  but  ecclesi- 
astically Newsham  is  now  joined  to  the  cure  of 
St.  Lawrence,  Barton. 

Previous  to  the  year  1824,  Newsham  people 
had,  on  sufferance,  been  allowed,  on  paying  a 
small  annual  tribute  to  Goonargh,  to  conduct  their 
own  parochial  affairs,  Goosnargh  and  Newsham 
each  maintaining  its  own  poor;  but  a  dispute 
having  arisen  between  the  authorities  of  the  two 
divisions,  relative  to  the  settlement  of  a  pauper, 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  25 

the  only  one  chargeable  or  presumed  by  the 
authorities  of  Goosnargh  to  be  chargeable  to 
Newsham,  or  such  at  least  being  the  pretext, 
the  authorities  of  Goosnargh  resolved  upon  lay- 
ing a  poor-rate  assessment,  through  both  the 
townships  and  hamlet,  and  subjecting  both  to 
one  parochial  rule.  This  resolution  being  forth- 
with attempted  to  be  carried  into  effect,  was  met 
with  great  indignation  and  contempt  by  the 
Newsham  authorities.  Litigation  ensued,  and 
the  following  is  recorded  thereof. 

On  Tuesday,  the  yth  day  of  April,  1825,  at  an 
adjourned  quarter  session  at  Preston,  held  before 
Sir  Thomas  Dalrymple  Hesketh,  baronet,  and  Ed- 
ward Robert  Travis,  esquire,  two  of  his  Majesty's 
Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Lancaster, 
two  long  depending  appeals  by  John  Moon  and 
Richard  Trelfall,  both  inhabitants  of  the  division 
of  Newsham,  within  the  Township  of  Goosnargh- 
with -Newsham,  against  the  rate  or  assessment 
made  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  of  that  township,  for 
the  months  of  February,  March,  and  April,  and 
part  of  May,  1824,  remained  upon  the  appeal 
paper  for  hearing,  upon  the  ground  that  News- 
ham  was  not  a  part  of  the  township,  but  separate 
from  Goosnargh.  When  the  appeal  of  John 
Moon  was  first  heard,  and  after  a  most  patient 
hearing  until  nearly  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
an  adjournment  took  place  until  the  following 
morning,  Friday,  the  8th  April,  when  the  hear- 
ing was  resumed  before  the  same  Justices,  and 
the  case  proved  by  the  respondents,  in  support  of 
the  joint  assessment  upon  Goosnargh-with-New- 
sham,  was  irresistable.  In  fact,  much  of  the 
evidence  adduced  on  the  part  of  the  appellants 


26  GOOSNARGH  : 

strongly  supported  the  respondents'  case;  and 
about  noon,  Mr.  Fell,  on  the  part  of  the  respon- 
dents, having  closed  his  very  able  speech  in  reply, 
the  Justices  retired,  and  in  about  twenty  minutes 
returned  into  court,  when  the  chairman,  Sir 
Thomas  D.  Hesketh,  from  the  Bench  said,  that 
as  the  appeal  had  occasioned  much  anxiety  in 
the  county,  the  Bench  felt  great  anxiety  also  to 
decide  it  uprightly,  and  had  given  the  evidence 
on  both  sides  its  best  attention  and  consideration, 
the  result  of  which  was,  that  after  so  long  a 
junction  between  the  divisions  of  Goosnargh  and 
Newsham,  they  must  be  considered  one  township 
for  the  maintenance  of  their  poor,  and  therefore 
the  assessment  must  be  confirmed  of  course. 
The  Respondents  in  counsel: — 

Mr.  Fell  and  Dr.  Baldwin  Brown. 

Attornies,    Messrs.  Grimshaw,  Palmer  and 

Grimshaw,  of  Preston. 
For  the  Appellants  in  counsel: — 

Mr.  Raincock, 

Mr.  John  Addison, 

Mr.  Brandreth. 

Attornies,  Messrs.  Pilkington,  of  Preston. 
Since  the  above  decision,  Goosnargh-with- 
Newsham  has  been  one  township  for  all  purposes 
of  rating,  but  on  sufferance  the  inhabitants  of 
Newsham  have  since  1753  conducted  their  own 
highway  affairs,  or  rather,  the  inhabitants  of 
Newsham  have  been  excused  from  contributing 
to  the  repairs  of  the  plats,  bridges,  &c.,  in  the 
division  of  Goosnargh ;  for  the  only  matter  of 
any  importance  with  which  the  division  of 
Newsham  is  charged,  by  way  of  highway  ex- 
penses, is  the  maintenance  of  "Hough  Clough 


PAST    AND    PRESENT.  27 

Bridge  ,"  and  even  that  they  refuse  to  do.  The 
bridge  is  broken  down,  and  Hollowforth  deeps 
are  impassible,  except  at  very  low  waters,  and 
since  Newsham  was  joined  to  the  cure  of  Barton 
Church,  the  pathway  over  ^Iough_  Bridge  is  of 
more  importance  than  it  formerly  was.  The 
question  has  often  been  asked — What  must  be 
done  respecting  Hough  Bridge  ?  The  answer 
is  short  and  telling — The  surveyors  of  the  high- 
ways of  Goosnargh- with -Newsham  (for  such 
they  are),  should  lay  their  rate  through  both 
divisions  of  the  townships,  erect  Hough  Bridge, 
and  henceforth  subject  all  the  township  to  one 
highway  rule. — Too  much  indulgence  has  spoilt 
many  a  promising  child. 

The  following  memorandum,  which  is  extract- 
ed from  one  of  the  town's  bocks,  clearly  shows  that 
the   bridge  in  question  is  a  public  bridge,  and 
should  be  built  and  maintained  accordingly. 
"May  23,  1753.     At  the  Easter  Tuesday  meet- 
ing,   Newsham   people   objected    to    our 
repairs  of  plats,  and  which  we  afterwards 
struck  out  of  the  account,  and  agreed  for 
the  future  not  to   allow  any  accounts  by 
them  brought  in  for  the  repairs  of  Hough 
Bridge." 

The  Preston  and  Lancaster  canal,  which  was  ' 
made  in   1797,  and  the  Preston  and    Lancaster 
railway    (made    in     1838    and    1839)    both    run 
through  the  division. 

There  is  a  charity  estate  in  Newsham,  upon 
the  management  of  which  the  Commissioners 
made  the  following  dark  report : — 

By  indenture  of  feoffment,  dated  gth  Septem- 
ber, 1676,  John  Parkinson  conveyed  to  John 


28  GOOSNARGH  : 

Blackburn,  Robert  Parkinson  of  Blindhurst,  John 
Goose  and  Robert  Parkinson  of  the  Higher  Lick- 
hurst,  and  their  heirs,  a  messuage  and  tenement 
in  Newsham  and  Hollowforth,  in  the  Chapelry 
of  Goosnargh,  containing  by  estimation  16  acres 
customary  measure,  upon  trust,  after  the  death 
of  the  said  John  Parkinson,  and  the  determination 
of  certain  estates  and  interests  thereby  created, 
to  employ  the  rents  for  the  binding  out  appren- 
tices into  trades  and  occupations  of  the  most 
needful,  poor  and  indigent  children,  which  should 
be  from  time  to  time  inhabiting  and  residing 
within  Goosnargh,  Newsham,  and  Hollowforth 
aforesaid,  or  in  any  of  them,  or  such  of  them,  and 
in  such  sort  and  manner  as  should  be  yearly  from 
time  to  time,  for  ever  hereafter  agreed  upon  and 
thought  meet  by  the  said  trustees  above  named, 
and  the  survivors  and  survivor  of  them,  his  and 
their  heirs,  or  the  greater  part  of  them. 

By  indenture  of  lease  and  release,  dated  )  st 
and  2nd  February,  1814,  Richard  Pilkington, 
John  Bamber  and  John  Wilkinson,  executors  and 
divisees  in  trust,  under  the  will  of  John  Walker, 
in  consideration  of  ^"374  i8s  od.,  conveyed 
to  John  Dalton  the  elder,  John  Pilkington,  and 
John  Dalton  the  younger  (the  then  trustees  of 
this  charity),  their  heirs  and  assigns,  two  closes 
called  the  Hough  Meadow  and  Boggart  Croft, 
containing  one  acre  and  twenty-eight  perches, 
in  Hollowforth,  which  they  had  purchased  by 
auction ;  and  James  Stewart,  party  thereto,  having 
purchased  the  greater  part  of  the  estate  lately 
belonging  to  the  said  John  Walker,  it  was  agreed 
that  the  title-deeds  should  be  lodged  in  his  hands, 
he  covenanting  to  produced  them  when  required. 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  2q 

No  trusts  are  stated. 

By  indenture  of  mortgage,  dated  3rd  February, 
1814,  the  said  John  Dalton  the  elder,  John  Pilk- 
ington  and  John  Dalton  the  younger,  in  consid- 
eration of  ^"369  paid  to  them  by  the  said  executors 
and  devisees  in  trust,  demised  the  said  premises 
for  the  term  of  500  years,  for  securing  the  sum  of 
^"369  with  interest. 

By  indenture,  dated  5th  February,  1814, 
reciting  that  the  said  John  Dalton,  John  Pilk- 
ington,  and  John  Dalton  the  younger,  had 
purchased  the  said  premises  called  the  Hough 
Meadow  and  the  Boggart  Croft  for  ^"374  i8s.  od., 
and  that  they  had  demised  the  same  as  above- 
mentioned,  by  way  of  mortgage  to  the  vendors, 
for  the  repayment  of  the  said  sum  of  ^"369  and 
interest ;  and  further  reciting,  that  the  said  money 
was  borrowed  to  enable  the  trustees  to  purchase 
the  said  premises,  and  was  applied  for  payment 
of  the  said  purchase  money ;  and  further  reciting, 
that  the  said  trustees  were  desirous  to  unite 
the  closes  last  mentioned  to  the  other  trust  es- 
tates, and  to  charge  the  same  with  the  sum  of 
^"374  1 8s.  od.  and  the  interest  thereof,  and  to 
reserve  to  the  trustees  power  to  raise  and  retain 
the  same  out  of  the  rents  and  profits  thereof; 
and  that  they  had  agreed  to  appoint  the  said 
Richard  Pilkington  a  trustee.  It  is  witnessed 
that  the  said  John  Dalton  and  others  conveyed 
to  the  use  of  themselves  and  the  said  Richard 
Pilkington,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  all  the  prem- 
ises in  the  indenture  of  the  gth  September,  1676, 
and  also  the  two  closes  last  mentioned,  to  hold 
the  same,  subject  to  the  said  mortgage,  upon  the 


3<D  GOOSXARGH  : 

trusts  declared  in  the  said  indenture  of  gth  Sep- 
tember, 1676. 

The  land  originally  devised,  together  with 
that  purchased  in  1814,  which  measured  one 
acre  aud  twenty-eight  perches,  is  scarcely  17 
acres,  although  the  part  devised  by  the  testator 
is  described  as  containing  16  acres,  by  estimation. 
The  principal  part  of  what  was  purchased  in 
1814  is  a  meadow  which  is  surrounded  on  three 
sides  by  other  property,  through  which  a  right  of 
way  to  the  meadow  was  claimed.  The  rest  is  merely 
a  small  cottage  close  to  the  old  farmhouse.  It  is 
to  be  observed  that  at  the  time  of  the  purchase 
there  was  a  balance  of  about  ^~6o  only  in  favour 
of  the  charity,  and  that  nearly  the  whole  of  the 
purchase  money  was  borrowed  on  mortgage; 
but  it  is  stated  that  the  object  in  buying  these 
premises  was  to  secure  the  charity  against  an 
action  which  had  been  threatened  by  the 
tenant  of  the  meadow,  to  establish  the  right 
of  way  throught  the  old  charity  land.  The  use 
of  such  right  of  way  had  long  been  a  great 
annoyance  to  the  farmer  of  the  charity  land,  who 
had  complained  to  the  trustees,  and  had  engaged 
to  pay  a  rent  of  £\2  a  year  for  the  Hough  Mead- 
ow and  cottage  for  the  residue  of  his  term  in  the 
other  land,  of  which  seven  years  were  unexpired, 
if  the  trustees  would  purchase  them.  It  was 
under  these  circumstances  that  the  trustees  de- 
termined to  bid  for  the  premises  above  mentioned, 
which  were  put  up  by  auction.  It  appears  that 
the  bidding  was  fair,  and  that  the  price 
for  which  the  premises  were  sold,  though 
high,  was  not  unreasonable,  considering  their 
situation  with  respect  to  the  other  charity  land. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  3! 

Mr.  Richard  Pilkington,  who  was  appointed  a 
trustee  a  few  years  after  the  sale,  had  for  many 
years  managed  the  charity  for  his  father,  had  no 
interest  whatever  in  the  property  belonging  to 
the  late  John  Walker,  under  whose  will  he 
was  one  of  the  devisees  in  trust. 

Up  to  the  year  1821,  John  Holmes  held  the 
old  farm  at  ^"25  a  year,  and  the  newly-purchased 
land  at  £12  a  year.  His  lease  then  expiring, 
the  whole  farm  was  reviewed  by  two  land  valuers, 
and  at  their  suggestion  the  land  was  let  to  the 
same  tenant  at  ^"56  a  year,  it  being  understood 
that  a  new  barn  was  to  be  built,  and  the  whole 
premises  put  into  complete  repair.  The  rent 
was  afterwards  reduced  to  ^"51,  and  the  tenant 
had  applied  for  a  further  reduction  which  had 
been  refused,  and  the  trustees  expect  to  be  able 
to  let  it  for  as  much  as  ^"56  a  year.  The  farm 
house  has  been  put  into  complete  repair,  and  a 
new  barn  built,  at  an  expense  of  upwards  of  ^"500, 
which  sum  has  been  borrowed  of  Robert  and 
William  Holmes,  at  five  per  cent.  The  expense 
of  this  building  appears  to  have  exceeded  con- 
siderably the  sum  which  would  have  been  re- 
quired to  put  the  house  into  good  repair,  and  to 
have  built  a  barn  sufficient  for  the  size  of  the 
farm.  No  regular  estimate  was  made  previously 
to  the  commencement  of  the  work,  and  the 
trustees  seem  to  have  incurred  a  greater  expense 
than  they  anticipated. 

With  respect  to  the  sums  of  money  which  the 
trustees  have  lately  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of 
land  and  in  building,  they  appear  not  to  have 
paid  sufficient  attention  to  the  state  of  the  reve- 
nues of  the  charity.  The  property  would  un- 


32  GOOSNARGH  : 

doubtedly  be  much  improved,  if  there  were  any 
means  of  paying  off  the  debts  which  have  been 
thus  incurred,  but  if  any  part  of  the  rents  were 
reserved  for  that  purpose,  there  would  be  very 
little  left  to  be  disposed  of  according  to  the  di- 
rections of  the  donor. 

Out  of  the  rents  the  interest  of  the  two  sums 
of  ^"369  and  ^"500  are  paid  in  the  first  place, 
and  the  residue  is  disposed  of  in  putting  out  as 
apprentices,  boys  of  Goosnargh  and  Newsham, 
there  being  no  district  called  Hollowforth.* 

Since  1814  eight  apprentices  have  been  put  out, 
with  fees  of  £10  each,  and  about  £\  us.  6d.  has 
been  paid  with  each  of  them  for  the  expenses  of 
the  indentures,  which  although  it  does  not  seem 
necessary,  have  always  had  a  one  pound  stamp 
affixed  to  them. 

For  a  long  period  this  charity  has  been,  in 
fact,  confined  to  the  children  of  Roman  Catholics, 
and  it  has  been  left  to  the  Roman  Catholic  priest 
at  Goosnargh,  to  select  such  objects  as  he  thought 
fit. 

Of  the  trustees  of  late  years  two  have  been 
Roman  Catholics,  and  two  Protestants,  but  look- 
ing at  some  of  the  earlier  trust  deeds  it  appears 
that  the  names  are  all  of  Protestant  families. 
It  is  suggested  that  the  donor  and  his  family- 
were  Roman  Catholics,  as  an  excuse  for  confining 
the  benefit  of  the  charity  to  persons  of  that  per- 
suasion, but  if  this  were  the  fact,  which  there  is 
some  reason  to  doubt,  we  think  it  would  not 
justify  the  total  exclusion  of  Protestant  children, 
as  the  testator  has  not  expressly  excluded  them 

^Newsham  and  Hollowforth  are  one  and  the  same  place. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  33 

by  the  terms  of  his  will,  and  we  apprehend  that 
in  case  the  trustees  shall  continue  to  exclude 
Protestant  children  it  would  be  considered  in  the 
court  of  equity  as  an  abuse  of  the  trust  reposed 
in  them. 

There  are  only  two  trustees  now  living, 
John  Dalton,  esquire,  who  we  understand  is  a 
Roman  Catholic,  and  Richard  Pilkington,  who 
is  a  Protestant. 

The  income  of  the  charity,  beyond  what  has 
been  disposed  of  as  above-mentioned,  has  been 
applied  as  follows,  since  1883: — 

£     s.     D. 

Auction  duty  on  purchase     ...        10  12   u 
Preparing    conveyance,    mort- 
gage   and    trust  deed     ...       26     5     4 
Surveying,    valuing,  and  mak- 
ing a  plan  of  the  estate  ...         440 
At  the  settlement  of  accounts,  up  to  3rd  June 
last,  there  was  a  balance  against  the  charity  of 
^"74  143.  i  id.  but  there  was  due  from  the  tenant 
£62  1 8s.  i  id. 

JOHN  PARKINSON'S  BEQUEST. 
John  Parkinson,  by  will  dated  i8th  June, 
1675,  directed,  after  several  specific  legacies,  that 
his  goods,  chattels,  and  debts  should  be  divided 
into  three  equal  shares,  one  part  thereof  to  be 
given  to  his  wife,  one  to  his  son,  and  the  other 
he  directed  should  be,  by  his  executors,  carefully 
put  out,  and  the  increase  be  yearly  distributed 
amongst  the  poor  and  indigent  householders  from 
time  to  time  inhabiting  within  the  Township  of 
Goosnargh,  according  to  the  discretion  of  his  ex- 
ecutors; and  he  appointed  John  Charnock  and 
John  Goose,  excutors. 
c 


34  GOOSNARGH  : 

We  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  any  infor- 
mation with  respect  to  this  legacy.  It  does  not 
appear  that  any  benefit  was  derived  by  the  Town- 
ship of  Goosnargh. 

Complaints  having  been  long  and  loud  respect- 
ing the  management,  or  rather  mismanagement, 
of  these  charity  funds,  which  coming  to  the  ears 
of  the  late  Richard  Oliverson,  esquire,  of  London, 
he  undertook  on  behalf  of  the  township  to  in- 
vestigate the  -state  thereof,  but  the  only  benefit 
derived  from  that  gentleman's  disinterested  and 
praiseworthy  interference  was  an  appointment 
of  new  trustees ;  he,  with  his  characteristic  liber- 
ality, paying  the  expenses  of  the  new  trust  deed. 

The  present  trustees  are  Thomas  Fitzherbert 
Brockholes,  Charles  Roger  Jacson,  Richard 
Cookson,  Matthew  Miller,  George  Crane,  Thomas 
Smith,  and  Robert  Kirkham.  And  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  when  the  Commissioners  next  report 
on  this  charity  it  will  have  a  sweeter  ring  with 
it. 

During  the  last  ten  years  fourteen  poor  chil- 
dren (fees  varying  from  £12  to  ^20),  have  been 
apprenticed  to  various  trades  by  the  trustees  of 
the  charity,  and  the  accounts  of  the  charity  stand 
as  follows: — 

£       S.       D. 

Farm  Rent       65     o     o 

Cash  invested  in  the  hands  of 

the  Charity  Commissioners     247   16     9 

Cash  in  different  banks 210     o     o 

Of  Newsham,  Fishwick  writes,  "  Almost  the 
only  place  of  any  interest  in  the  little  township 
of  Newsham  is  Newsham  Hall,  which  was  for 
many  generations  the  seat  of  the  Newsoms,  a 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  35 

once  powerful  and  influential  family  in  Lanca- 
shire and  Yorkshire." 

The  connection  between  the  families  of  the 
two  counties  has  not  been  proved,  but  it  is  prob- 
able that  the  Lancashire  branch  sprang  from  the 
Yorkshire  family. 

At  a  very  early  period  Nisandus  de  Newson 
granted  by  charter  certain  lands  in  Newsom  and 
York  to  the  monks  of  Fountains  Abbey,  which 
grant  was  afterwards  confirmed  by  his  son,  Ro- 
bert de  Neusum,  whose  son  Ranulphus  de  Neu- 
som  was  living  A. D.  1234-1269.  This  Ranulphus 
had  a  son  Robertus  de  Neusom,  whose  wife  Agnus 
confirmed  a  grant  to  Fountains,  made  by  Ran- 
dulphus  de  Neusom,  her  husband's  father;  and  in 
1331  an  Adam  de  Neusom  granted  to  Sir  Wil- 
liam Bowes,  and  to  Henry  son  of  Adam  de  Clea- 
tham,  all  his  land  in  Neusom  (Co.  York),  with 
the  reversion  of  the  lands  which  Alan  de  Neuson 
held  in  Berford,  and  which  Adam  de  Sted-dale 
held  for  in  Barnard  Castle. 

A  branch  of  the  family  resided  at  Newsham 
Hall  in  the  I5th  century,  but  it  is  not  unlikely 
that  they  were  here  at  a  much  earlier  period. 
No  doubt  it  was  one  of  the  family  who  is  said 
to  have,  in  1527,  taken  a  part  in  a  dispute  rela- 
tive to  the  tithes  of  Newsham. 

For  seven  generations  this  property  descended 
from  father  to  son;  the  last  of  the  family  who 
owned  it  was  Richard  Newsom,  who  married 
Barbara,  daughter  of  Edmund  Fleetwood,  of 
Roshall  (i.e.  Rossall),  esquire,  and  was  living  in 
1632. 

A  few  years  after  this  the  estate  was  conveyed 
to  Thomas  Wilson,  the  eldest  son  of  Thomas 
c  2 


36  GOOSNARGH  : 

Wilson,  of  Wrightington,  gent.,  and  Mary  his 
wife.  Thomas  Wilson  the  younger  (of  Tunley 
and  Newsham  Hall),  died  in  or  about  the  year 
1660,  when  Newsham  Hall  passed  to  his  son 
Thomas,  who  died  intestate  and  without  issue  in 
1702,  when  the  property  went  to  Henry  Wilson, 
the  grandson  of  John  Wilson,  of  Bretherton. 
Henry  Wilson  was  born  in  1669,  and  married 
Catherine  Bamber,  and  died  in  1726,  leaving  issue, 
Thomas,  John,  and  Ann.  Thomas  Wilson,  who 
succeeded  his  father  to  Newsham  Hall,  died  in 
1759,  leaving  it  to  his  grandson,  Thomas  Wilson, 
of  Manchester  (son  of  Henry  Wilson,  of  Clifton, 
deceased),  who  in  1782  sold  it  to  John  Bourne,  of 
Stalmine  Hall,  in  the  County  of  Lancaster,  es- 
quire, who  by  will  bequeathed  it  to  his  nephew, 
James  Bourne,  of  Heathfield,  who  again  devised 
it  to  his  brother,  John  Bourne,  of  Stalmine  Hall, 
whose  son,  James  Thomas  Bourne,  captain  in  the 
2nd  Royal  Lancashire  Militia,  is  now  its  present 
owner. 

The  building  as  it  now  stands  shows  no  evid- 
ence of  antiquity,  although  there  is  nothing  from 
which  one  can  fix  with  any  degree  of  certainty 
its  exact  or  even  proximate  age.  The  present 
tenant  is  Mr.  Thomas  Jackson. 

A  beautiful  carved  oak  cupboard  is  still  at 
Newsham  Hall,  bearing  the  inscription  1711, 
fFk.  (doubtless  Henry  and  Catherine  Wilson). 
On  a  door  of  an  oak-panelled  pew  in  Wood- 
plumpton  Church,  belonging  to  Newsham  Hall, 
is  cut  in  the  solid  wood  the  following:  H.W:  .... 
W.,  1714.  One  letter  is  deficient,  but  the  initials, 
no  doubt,  refer  to  Henry  and  Mary  Wilson ;  and 
a  slab  near  the  altar  rail  records  that  there  is 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  37 

buried  Ann  Taylor,  wife  of  James  Taylor,  and 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  Wilson,  late  of 
Newsham  Hall,  gent.,  A.D.  1780,  aged  33. 

CROW    HALL. 

A  farmhouse  of  that  name  is  now  the  property 
of  Mr.  Stirziker,  of  Goosnargh.  Previous  to  the 
erection  of  New  House  Chapel  (i.e.  about  the  end 
of  the  1 7th  century),  the  Roman  Catholics 
secretly  held  their  services  here,  and  also  at  Bank 
Hall.  Thomas  Tyldesley,  in  his  diary,  writes — 
that  on  the  27th  December,  1713,  he  went  to 
Crow  Hall,  where  he  had  occasion  to  chide  Mr. 
John  Swarbrick  for  disloyalty  (to  the  house  of 
Stuart). 

The  person  here  alluded  to  was  the  Rev.  John 
Swarbrick,  the  founder  of  New  House  Chapel. 
In  1716  Crow  Hall  is  reported  to  the  Govern- 
ment as  "  given  to  superstitious  uses." — NOTE. 
In  Doomsday  Book  the  township  is  called  Neu- 
house. 

DIVISION  OF  (THE  DIVISION  OF)  GOOSNARGH. 

For  ecclesiastical  and  local  convenience  Goos- 
nargh is  divided  into  the  upper  and  lower  divi- 
sions, but  for  all  other  purposes  it  is  one  township. 
The  division  line  is  a  little  to  the  north  of  the 
high  road,  leading  from  Garstang  to  Longridge. 

Population  of  the  higher  division,  1881,  561. 
Population  of  the  lower  division,  1881,  560. 

PRINCIPAL   LAND    OWNERS. 

The  proprietorship  of  the  township    is  very 
much  divided.    The  principal  land  owners  are — 
Thomas  Oliverson,  of  London. 


38  GOOSNARGH  : 

Townley  Rigby  Knowles,  of  Fishwick,  Lanca- 
shire ;  and  the 

Representatives  of  the  late  George  Hargreaves, 
of  Leyland. 

PARISH    AFFAIRS. 

The  parish  affairs  are  chiefly  managed  by  a 
guardian,  two  overseers,  one  assistant  overseer, 
four  churchwardens  (two  for  Goosnargh  and 
Whittingham,  and  two  for  Whitechapel),  two 
collectors  and  overseers,  one  relieving  officer,  one 
registrar  and  one  deputy-registrar  of  births  and 
deaths,  and  a  select  vestry  of  twenty-four. 

GUARDIAN. 

The  Guardian  is  appointed  by  the  inhabitants 
of  the  township  annually,  on  or  about  the  25th 
March,  due  notice  thereof  having  been  given  by 
the  Clerk  to  the  Board  of  Guardians  of  the 
Union.  Any  ratepayer  or  owner  of  property 
in  the  township  can  nominate  (if  he  has  got  his 
name  registered  with  the  Clerk  of  the  Union  for 
that  purpose),  a  Guardian.  A  prescribed  form 
is  required,  which  may  be  had  on  application  to 
the  Board ,  and  if  only  one  be  nominated,  if  willing 
and  eligible  to  serve,  he  will  be  returned  ;  if  two 
or  more  be  nominated,  and  none  of  them  declare 
their  unwillingness  to  serve,  there  must  be  a 
public  election ;  and  it  then  becomes  the  duty  of 
the  Clerk  to  the  Board  to  forward  voting  papers, 
containing  the  names  of  the  persons  nominated, 
to  every  ratepayer  in  the  township,  and  those 
who  choose  to  vote  must  place  their  initials — the 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  39 

first  letters  of  their  name  (I  write  for  plain  people) — 
opposite  the  name  of  the  person  he  votes  for. 
The  papers  will  be  called  for  by  an  officer  ap- 
pointed by  the  Clerk. 

Every  ratepayer,  not  being  a  pauper,  has  at 
least  one  vote. 

An  election  for  a  Guardian  costs  the  township 
a  farthing  a  head  on  the  population. 

The  framers  of  the  Poor  Law  Amendment 
Act  of  1834  presumed  that  there  would  always 
be  found  in  any  township  men  competent  and 
willing  to  serve  the  office  of  Guardian  without 
any  remuneration,  but  in  this,  as  in  many  other 
matters  relating  to  the  new  poor  law,  they  have 
been  sadly  mistaken.  The  office  of  Guardian  is 
an  honourable  and  important  one,  his  business 
being  to  stand  between  the  oppressed  and  op- 
pressor, to  attend  to  the  interest  of  the  rate- 
payers by  an  economical  distribution  of  the  rates, 
and  to  see  that  the  wants  of  the  poor  are  properly 
and  humanely  attended  to. 

In  law,  any  person  (a  woman  as  well  as  a  man, 
I  suppose),  who  is  rated  at  £20  a  year  or  upwards 
to  the  poor,  is  qualified  to  serve  the  office  of 
Guardian,  but  in  equity  many  other  qualifications 
are  necessary,  especially  humanity  and  firmness, 
with  a  discriminating  mind  ;  to  be  able  to  judge 
between  the  clamorous  impostors  and  the  modest 
deserving  poor ;  and  he  should  be  a  person  of 
business  habits,  and  not  of  too  many  words.  A 
novice  in  parish  affairs  will  seldom  make  a  good 
Guardian. 

The  interest  of  the  ratepayers  being  great, 
and  their  duty  in  seeing  the  wants  of  the  really 
deserving  poor  properly  attended  to,  is  not  little; 


40  GOOSNARGH  : 

and,  moreover,  the  local  interest  being  so  much 
destroyed,  it  behoves  the  ratepayers  to  look  out 
for  a  properly-qualified  person,  and  secure  his 
services  someway  or  other.  Remember  the  tup 
and  the  tar.  Those  who  have  been  behind  the 
scenes  well  know  that  £\o  a  year  is  very  little 
in  parish  affairs. 

OVERSEERS. 

With  regard  to  the  mode  of  electing  Overseers 
of  the  Poor,  J.  Ashdown,  in  his  Churchwardens 
and  Overseers'  Guide  and  Directory,  remarks : — 

"The  manner  of  electing  Overseers  is  for  the 
Justices  to  issue  precepts  to  the  several 
high  constables  within  their  respective 
districts,  requiring  them  to  issue  warrants 
to  the  petty  constables,  to  give  notice 
to  the  Overseers  within  their  liberty,  to 
make  out  and  return  to  the  Justices  a  list, 
in  writing,  of  a  competent  number  of 
substantial  householders  within  their  res- 
pective districts,  so  that  out  of  such  lists 
the  Justices  may  appoint  Overseers  of  the 
Poor  for  the  year  ensuing.  The  appoint- 
ment of  Overseers  of  the  Poor  shall  in 
every  year  be  made  on  the  25th  March,  or 
within  14  days  after.  The  persons  nom- 
inated for  Overseers  are  generally  placed 
at  the  head  of  the  list,  or  otherwise  dis- 
tinguished ;  and  unless  good  cause  be 
shown  the  Justices  generally  sanction  the 
choice  of  the  parishioners  by  appointing 
the  persous  nominated  at  the  vestry." 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  4! 

Before  the  new  poor  law  came  into  operation 
the  office  of  Overseer  of  the  Poor  (especially  in 
townships  where  no  assistant  was  employed),  was 
ve.y  important,  and  is  yet  considerable. 

The  business  now  being  chiefly  to  grant  suffi- 
cient rates  to  defray  the  necessary  expenses  of  the 
poor,  and  all  other  lawful  charges  usually  collected 
under  the  head  of  poor's-rates,  and  to  make  an 
equitable  assessment  of  the  same  upon  all  the 
rateable  property  in  the  district  for  which  they 
hold  office,  and  to  see  that  the  "calls"  made  by 
the  Guardians  are  duly  paid  ;  to  attend  to  the 
quarterly  audits,  the  publication  of  the  voters, 
jury,  and  parochial  relief  lists  ;  to  attend  to  the 
adjustment  of  all  disputed  settlement  cases;  to 
give  orders  for  medical  assistance,  and  to  admin- 
ister relief  in  all  cases  of  sudden  and  urgent 
necessity,  &c. 

ASSISTANT   OVERSEER. 

The  Assistant  Overseer  or,  as  he  is  now  more 
generally  called,  the  Collecting  Officer,  receives  his 
appointment  from  the  Board,  which  requires 
him  to  give  bond  for  the  security  of  the  money 
with  which  he  is  entrusted. 

The  chief  duties  of  this  officer  is  to  make  out, 
under  the  supervision  and  direction  of  the  Over- 
seers, the  poor-rate  assessments,  and  to  collect 
the  rates  charged  therein,  and  to  pay  the  "calls" 
to  the  treasurer  of  the  Union ;  to  render  a 
monthly  statement  of  the  township's  finances  to 
the  Overseers,  and  a  quarterly  account  to  the 
auditor  of  the  Union  ;  to  make  out  all  lists  and 
returns  required  by  the  Board,  and  to  assist  the 


42  GOOSNARGH  : 

Overseers  in  all  matters  relating  to  the  duties  of 
their  office. 

CHURCHWARDENS. 

Upon  the  office  of  Churchwarden,  J.  Ashdown 
remarks: — 

"  Churchwardens  are  officers  instituted  to  pro- 
tect the  edifice  of  the  church,  to  superin- 
tend the  ceremonies  of  public  worship, 
to  promote  the  observance  of  religious 
duties,  to  perform  and  execute  parochial 
regulations,  and  to  become,  as  occasion 
may  require,  the  representatives  of  the 
body  of  the  parish." 

The  Churchwardens  are  generally  chosen  by 
the  joint  consent  of  the  parishioners  and  minister  ; 
but  by  custom  the  minister  may  choose  one,  and 
the  parishioners  another,  or  the  parishioners  alone 
may  appoint  both.  But  where  the  custom  of  a 
parish  does  not  take  place,  the  election  is  to  be 
according  to  the  directions  of  the  canons  of  the 
church,  which  are  that  the  Churchwardens  in 
every  parish  shall  be  chosen  by  the  joint  consent 
of  the  minister  and  parishioners;  but  if  they  can- 
not agree  upon  such  a  choice,  then  the  minister 
to  choose  one  and  the  parishioners  another;  and 
without  such  joint  and  several  choice,  none  are 
to  take  upon  themselves  to  be  churchwardens. 

Every  Churchwarden  is  an  Overseer  of  the  Poor, 

although  every  Overseer  is  not  a  Churchwarden. 

The  Church-rates  of  the  Chapelry  of  Goosnargh 

are  laid  by  a  majority  of  the  select  vestry,  and 

on  this  head,  Burns,  in  his  "Justice,"  remarks  : — 

"By     custom    there   may   be   select    vestries 

of  a  certain   number   of   persons   elected 


PAST    AND   PRESENT.  43 

yearly  to  make  rates  and  manage  the  con- 
cerns of  the  parish  for  that  year,  and  such 
custom  is  a  good  custom;  and  if  the 
custom  of  the  parish  be  for  a  certain 
number  of  'persons  to  have  the  govern- 
ment thereof,  and  the  account  is  given 
up  to  them,  the  custom  is  a  good  custom, 
and  the  account  given  up  to  them,  a  good 
account." 

The  Church-rates  of  the  Chapelry  of  White- 
chapel  are  laid  in  open  vestry. 

The  rates  are  yet  laid  as  above,  but  the  pay- 
ment thereof  is  now  voluntary. 

COLLECTORS    AND    ASSESSORS. 

There  is  an  annual  parochial  meeting  held  in 
Goosnargh  on  or  about  the  25th  of  March,  at 
which  two  Collectors  and  Overseers  of  land,  pro- 
perty, income,  and  assessed  taxes,  are  appointed. 
The  Receiver  General,  who  is  the  Crown's  agent, 
allows  the  collectors  and  assessors  a  percentage 
upon  every  pound  paid  into  the  treasury.  They 
also  receive  a  fee  of  is.  for  every  game  certificate 
taken  out,  which  is  paid  by  the  persons  who  take 
out  the  said  licenses. 

The  duties  of  the  collectors  and  assessors  are 
simply  to  assess  and  collect  the  said  several  taxes, 
and  pay  the  monies  to  the  said  Receiver  General, 
or  deputy  appointed  by  him ;  and  to  deliver  game 
certificates  to  those  who  demand  and  pre-pay  for 
the  same. 

Upon  the  office  of  Collectors  and  Assessors,  I 
again  quote  from  J.  Ashdown: — 

"The  Churchwardens  and  Overseers  of  the  par- 
ish, for  the  security  of  the  parishioners, 


44  GOOSNARGH  : 

ought  to  see  that  proper  persons  are  ap- 
pointed by  the  Commissioners  for  the  af- 
fairs of  taxes,  to  collect  the  several  taxes 
arising  within  the  parish,  and  that  proper 
security  is  given  by  such  collectors  for  the 
collection  of  the  several  sums  given  in 
charge  to  them,  and  for  payment  of 
the  same  to  the  Receiver  General;  for 
should  any  deficiency  happen,  by  reason 
of  the  duties  being  in  arrear,  on  account 
of  the  failure  of  any  collector,  the  parish 
or  place  in  which  the  assessment  is  made 
is  answerable  for  the  amount  of  duties 
charged  therein  ;  and  the  amount  of  such 
deficiency  must  be  re-assessed  on  such  par- 
ish or  place  as  soon  after  such  default  shall 
be  discovered,  as  conveniently  can  be  done ; 
apportioning  the  amount  of  such  arrear, 
according  to  each  person's  assessment,  as 
nearly  as  the  case  will  admit." 
It  is  not  generally  understood  that  a  security 
is  non-effective  unless  renewed  at  the  commence- 
ment of  each  year. 

RELIEVING    OFFICER. 

The  Relieving  Officer  receives  his  appointment 
from  the  Board  of  Guardians. 

His  principal  duties  are,  to  receive  all  ap- 
plications for  relief  and  to  make  entries  thereof, 
inspect  the  dwellings,  situations  and  circumstances 
of  the  applicants,  and  to  make  a  weekly  report  to 
the  Board  of  the  same ;  to  attend  the  weekly  Board, 
and  also,  once  a  week,  in  every  township  or  place, 
administer  the  relief  granted  by  the  Board's  last 
meeting. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  45 

The  relieving  officer  is  required  to  give  bond 
for  the  monies  with  which  he  is  entrusted. 


REGISTRAR   OF   BIRTHS   AND   DEATHS. 

The  Registrar  is  appointed  by  the  Board  of 
Guardians,  and  his  principal  duties  are  to  register 
all  births  and  deaths  that  occur  in  his  district, 
according  to  a  prescribed  form  in  books  provided 
by  the  Registrar  General,  and  to  make  a  quarterly 
return  of  the  entries  he  has  made  of  such  regis- 
tration. He  must  also  deliver,  gratis,  a  certificate 
of  every  death  which  he  registers  to  the  person 
who  has  charge  of  the  funeral  of  the  deceased, 
which  certificate  must  be  delivered  to  the  offici- 
ating minister  of  the  church  or  chapel  where  the 
corpse  is  to  be  interred.  If  the  parties  who  have 
charge  of  the  funeral  have  neglected  to  procure 
a  certificate  before  the  body  is  taken  to  be  inter- 
red, it  becomes  the  duty  of  the  said  officiating 
minister  to  send  a  notice  of  such  interment  to 
the  registrar  of  the  district,  within  ten  days  after 
the  funeral. 

In  consequence  of  the  extra  trouble  which  de- 
volves upon  ministers,  in  cases  where  certificates 
have  not  been  obtained  before  the  funeral,  they 
are  very  averse  to  perform  the  funeral  service 
without  first  obtaining  a  certificate  of  registration, 
and  it  is  desirable  that  all  parties  should  obtain 
one  before  the  funeral  takes  place,  but  no  minis- 
ter can  refuse  to  perform  the  rite,  or  prevent  the 
interment  of  a  corpse,  solely  on  account  of  the 
undertaker  not  having  obtained  such  certificate. 

In  cases  where  the  deceased  person  has  had 
medical  advice  during  his  or  her  last  illness,  a 


46  GOOSNARGH  : 

certificate  ought  to  be  obtained  from  the  medical 
man  that  attended  upon  him  or  her,  stating  the 
cause  of  death,  which  certificate  must  be  put  into 
the  hands  of  the  registrar  when  application  is 
made  for  a  certificate  of  registration  of  the  death; 
and  this  is  imperative,  as  the  registrar  has  special 
orders  to  refuse  to  register  or  grant  certificates 
of  registration  to  all  parties  who  neglect  or  refuse 
to  obtain  and  produce  such  medical  certificates. 
To  many,  no  doubt,  this  will  seem  superfluous, 
but  it  is  a  most  effective  way  of  obtaining  one 
very  desirable  link  in  the  chain  of  statistics — the 
causes  of  death. 

It  is  also  the  duty  of  the  registrar  to  register 
without  fee  or  reward  from  the  parents  or  guard- 
ians of  the  children  the  births  of  all  the  children 
born  in  their  respective  districts  within  three 
months  from  the  birth.  Births  may  be  registered 
at  any  time  before  the  expiration  of  six  months 
from  the  birth,  but  only  in  the  presence  of  the 
superintendent  registrar,  and  on  the  payment  of 
a  fee  of  55. 

The  registrars  are  also  required  to  obtain  from 
the  respective  clergymen  in  their  district  a  quar- 
terly account  of  the  marriages  that  have  been 
solemnized  at  their  respective  churches  and  chap- 
els, and  present  them  along  with  the  quarterly 
abstracts  of  their  own  registers  to  the  superin- 
tendant  registrar  of  the  district.  See  article 
"Parish  Registers." 

DEPUTY    REGISTRAR. 

The  duties  of  the  Deputy  Registrar  are  to  attend 
to  all  the  duties  of  the  registrar  in  case  of  sick- 
ness or  unavoidable  absence. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT.  47 

SELECT  VESTRY. 

There  is  a  Select  Vestry  here  of  very  ancient 
date,  called  the  "twenty  four,"  from  the  num- 
ber it  contains. 

The  duties  of  this  body  once  were  very  import- 
ant, nearly  the  whole  of  the  parish  affairs  being 
governed  by  them;  at  present  their  duties  are 
confined  to  the  government  of  the  church  affairs. 
(See  Select  Vestry  under  the  head  "  Church- 
wardens.") 

The  twenty-four  are  in  possession  of  an  old 
manuscript,  in  exellent  preservation,  which  records 
many  of  the  transactions  of  the  vestry  and  church- 
wardens from  the  year  1625  down  to  the  pres- 
ent time. 

SURVEYORS   OF   THE    ROADS. 

The  following  is  a  memorandum  of  the  appoint- 
ment  of  the    supervisors   of  the   highways    of 
Goosnargh  and  Whittingham  for  the  year  1678. 
Supr    for  ye  Church  Tithe — 

Peter  Parkinson  de  Moore. 
George  Wilson. 
,,       for       Longley  Tithe — 
William  Simpson. 
Francis  Yate. 
„       for        Kidsnape  Tithe — 

Richard  Haydock. 
„       for       Threlfall  Tithe- 
Robert  Parkinson  de  Broadhead — 
Henry  Breers. 

„       for       Aspinhurst  Tithe — 
Thomas  Hornby. 

William  Walne,  for  the  higher  end. 
,,       for        Whittingham — 

John  Fisher,  for  the  lower  end. 


48  GOOSNARGH  : 

Formerly,  there  were  two  surveyors  of  the 
Goosnargh  roads,  who  were  appointed  annually, 
on  the  25th  March,  in  open  vestry,  and  their 
duties  were  to  erect  all  necessary  plats  and  bridges 
on  public  highways  (except  the  county  bridges), 
and  repair  and  keep  in  order  the  existing  ones, 
and  also  to  repair  the  township's  roads;  and 
likewise  to  superintend  the  repairs  of  the  whole 
of  the  highways  and  bye  ways  in  the  township, 
and  to  impound  all  strayed  cattle,  or  cattle  de- 
pastured on  the  highway  without  a  tenter.  The 
surveyors  are  under  the  supervision  of  the  magis- 
trates, and  may  be  summoned  and  fined  for  neg- 
lect of  duty.  At  present  there  is  only  one  sur- 
veyor, and  the  duty  of  impounding  stray  cattle 
now  falls  upon  the  police. 

HIGH    ROADS. 

The  length  of  the  highroads  in  this  township 
according  to  the  "rolls"  is  37  miles,  and  prob- 
ably the  length  of  the  byeroads  is  not  much  less. 

HOW    LAID    OUT. 

The  roads  are  laid  out  in  titheries  (formerly 
one  or  more  surveyors  were  appointed  for  each 
tithery),  namely,  Church  Tithery,  Longley  Tith- 
ery,  Kidsnape  Tithery,  Threlfall  Tithery,  and 
Aspinhurst  Tithery. 

HOW    REPAIRED. 

The  roads  here  have  been,  or  rather  should 
have  been,  repaired  from  time  immemorial,  by 


PAST    AND    PRESENT.  49 

ratione  tenure  (rate  or  lot  according  to  tenure). 
The  oldest  ''rolls"  extant  bear  the  date  1770,  and 
record  that  they  have  been  taken  from  the  original 
"rolls"  of  every  tithery.  Could  the  "original 
rolls"  be  discovered,  or  their  date  ascertained, 
it  would  be  an  important  link  in  the  history  of 
Goosnargh,  for  as  the  township  contained  five 
titheries  at  the  time  when  the  roads  were  alloted, 
and  ten  householders  originally  making  a  tithery, 
we  might  then  know  at  what  period  of  time  the 
township  contained  fifty  householders. 


TOWNSHIP  S    ROAD. 

There  are  several  small  portions  of  road  in 
different  parts  of  the  township  which  have  been 
omitted  in  the  allotments  and  are  "township's 
road,"  being  altogether  about  i^  miles,  the  larg- 
est part  being  in  Wicking's  lane,  which  is  about 
one  mile,  the  remaining  lots  being  at  Inglewhite, 
Buck  Horns,  and  Loud  Bridge. 

BRIDGES. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  discover  any  account 
as  to  when  the  County  Bridges  were  erected,  nor 
that  of  Goosnargh  Mill  Bridge.  Hill  Clough 
Bridge  was  erected  in  or  about  the  year  1815, 
Brook  Bridge  was  erected  in  1819,  and  in  the 
same  year  a  bridge  was  erected  at  Whinney 
Clough,  washed  down  in  1858,  when  the  present 
bridge  was  put  up,  a  substantial  structure,  and 
has  an  inscription  as  follows  : — 
D 


GOOSNARGH  : 


which,  to  future  generations,  no  doubt,  will  be  a 
puzzle  :  it  was  intended  to  read — 


A.D.  1858. 
IJ.B.R.S. 


But  it  appears  that  the  sculptor  could  handle  a 
mallet  and  chisel  better  than  a  pen,  and  in  con- 
sequence had  the  intended  inscription  marked 
out  for  him  on  paper,  and  on  turning  the  paper 
face  side  down  to  mark  by  he  produced  No.  I  as 
above — satisfactory  no  doubt  to  himself,  but 

mystifying  to  passers  by. 
s 

METALLING  OF  THE  CART  ROADS. 

The  cart  roads  were  metalled  about  the  year 
1 769,  and  the  principal  part  of  the  gravel  used 
for  that  purpose  was  obtained  from  "The  Brock" 
and  the  "Great  Share"  in  Higher  Barker  estate. 

Previous  to  the  cart  roads  being  metalled  as 
above,  there  was  a  paved  road  about  3  feet  6 
inches  wide  along  the  sides  of  the  principal  high- 
ways for  the  convenience  of  saddle  horses,  pack 
horses  and  pedestrians.  (The  saddle  pillion  and 
pack  being  at  that  time  much  used). 

These  "hackney  causeways,"  as  they  were 
called,  were  generally  laid  down  on  the  sides  of 
the  lanes,  and  protected  from  the  encroachment 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  51 

of  carts  by  stumps  and  "  hobbocks,"  and  in  some 
instances  the  narrow  causeways  crossed  directly 
over  from  one  side  of  the  lane  to  the  other,  and 
of  course  would  sometimes  take  the  nearer  and 
sometimes  the  farther  chord  at  lane  ends.  This 
will  account  for  the  difference  in  measure  of  some 
of  the  lots  from  the  measurement  given  in  the 
rolls.  A  few  of  the  stumps  mentioned  above 
may  yet  be  seen  in  Goosnargh  Mill  Lane. 

GOOSNARGH  MILL  LANE. 

Of  a  part  of  Goosnargh  Mill  Lane  there  is  no 
record  in  the  township's  rolls,  and  the  reason  of 
its  omission  was,  at  the  time  the  said  rolls  were 
made — this  lane  was  a  road  "on  leave"  only,  but 
in  consequence  of  parties  being  suffered  to  traffic 
thereon  without  paying  toll,  in  course  of  time  it 
became  a  public  highway,  and  the  parties  who 
then  were  liable  to  the  repair  thereof  as  private 
road,  are  now  liable  to  the  repair  thereof  as  public 
road,  and  the  following  is  the  allotment  thereof. 

The  owners  and  occupiers  of  Church  House, 
from  the  Church  House  Gate  to  the  Little  Brook, 
being  78  roods  (this  includes  the  road  which  is  a 
public  highway,  from  Church  Bank  gate  and  stile 
to  the  brook  at  the  bottom  of  the  church  yard). 

The  owners  and  occupiers  of  Broadcroft,  from 
thence  and  up  the  Bridle  Road  towards  Eaves 
Green  to  the  plat,  40  roods. 

The  owners  and  occupiers  of  Eaves  Green, 
from  Broadcroft  part  to  the  half  mile  "stoop," 
being  47  roods  5  yards. 

The  owners  and  occupiers  of  Cross  House,  from 
thence  to  the  "Boggart  Platt,"  being  22  roods. 
D  2 


52  GOOSNARGH  : 

The  owners  and  occupiers  of  Mill  Bank  or  Mill 
Hill  House,  from  thence  to  the  mill  race  at  the 
top  of  the  Southern  Mill  Brow,  being  61  roods 
2  yards. 

The  owners  and  occupiers  of  Goosnargh  Mill, 
from  thence  to  the  south  battrings  of  the  mill 
bridge,  being  5  roods  4  yards.* 

The  said  owners  and  occupiers  of  Mill  Bank  or 
Mill  Hill  House,  from  the  north  battering  of  the 
mill  bridge  to  a  small  gutter  in  the  lane  where 
the  mill  gates  formerly  stood,  opposite  to  the 
junction  of  the  said  Mill  Bank  or  Mill  Hill  House 
land,  and  the  land  belonging  to  Broughton 
Church,  being  I  r  roods  3  yards. 

ROAD  MARKS. 

The  road  marks  are  in  a  very  irregular  and 
inefficient  state.  Trees  which  perhaps  have  been 
felled  a  century  ago,  gutters  which  are  levelled 
up,  cross  causeways  and  buildings  long  since 
removed,  are  referred  to. 

PIN  FOLD. 

Formerly  there  was  a  public  "Pin  Fold"  on 
Inglewhite  Green,  but  after  the  charge  of  strayed 
cattle  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  police,  it  became 
of  no  use  and  was  taken  down. 

BYE  WAYS. 

An  erroneous  notion  prevails  here  that  the 
surveyors  of  the  highways  have  no  power  to  en- 

*  In  1886  Fog  Hey  (53.  or.  i6p.)  was  sold  off  Mill  Hill  estate,  and 
laid  to  Goosnargh  Mill.  In  consequence  8  roods  and  2  yards  were  taken 
of  Mill  Hill  road  and  added  to  Goosnargh  Mill,  making  the  Milt  road  to 
be  13  roods  and  6  yards. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT.  53 

force  the  repairs  of  the  styles  and  byeways  ;  but 
they  are  just  as  much  under  their  supervisorship 
as  the  highways,  and  the  repairs  thereof  may  be 
enforced  in  like  manner.  But  were  it  only  out 
of  compliment  to  the  ladies  who  so  frequently 
traverse  our  numerous  sequestered  byeways,  I 
think  a  little  more  attention  ought  to  be  paid  to 
the  sloughs  which  are  so  common,  and  the  stiles 
which  are  so  dangerous  and  inconvenient,  than 
is  generally  the  case. 

ROADS  OF  NEWSHAM. 

The  owners  and  occupiers  of  the  hamlet  of 
Newsham  have,  since  the  year  1754,  as  before 
stated,  been  exempted  from  any  charges  for  the 
repairs  of  bridges,  plats  or  township's  road  in  the 
part  called  Goosnargh,  on  condition  that  they, 
the  said  owners  and  occupiers  of  Newsham,  would 
maintain  their  own  roads  and  keep  the  "  Hough 
Bridge  "  in  repair. 

But  the  Newshamites  not  profiting  by  the 
lesson  of  1825,  have  suffered  the  said  bridge  to  go 
down,  and  persist  in  refusing  to  erect  a  new  one. 
Well,  if  they  will  be  so  stiff  and  so  blind  to  their 
own  interest,  the  only  remedy  is  (as  before  stated), 
for  the  surveyors  of  the  highways  of  Goosnargh 
and  Newsham  (for  such  they  are),  to  lay  a  rate 
through  both  townships  and  hamlet,  erect  the 
said  "  Hough  Bridge,"  and  henceforward  subject 
the  hamlet  to  the  same  highway  rates  as  the 
mother  township,  which  ought  always  to  have 
been  the  case. 

The  following  memorandum  on  the  u  Hough 
Bridge  "  question,  which  I  copy  from  the  town- 
ship's minute  book  of  1754,  may  be  interesting : — 


54  GOOSNARGH  : 

At  our  Easter  meeting  Newsham  people  objected 
to  our  repairs  of  "  Platts,  &c.,  which  we  after- 
wards struck  out  of  ye  account,  and  agreed  for 
the  future  not  to  allow  any  account  by  them 
brought  in  for  the  repairs  of  ye  Hough  Bridge." 

INEQUALITY  OF  ALLOTMENT. 

A  few  small  farms  have  no  road  allotted  to 
them  ;  this  ought  at  once  to  be  rectified  by  the 
surveyors  allotting  to  all  such  a  reasonable  pro- 
portion of  the  township's  road. 

In  consequence  of  the  change  in  the  mode  of 
carriage  since  the  roads  were  divided  many  of  the 
farms  are  very  unequally  charged  with  road,  and 
in  some  instances  the  allotments  are  very  inju- 
diciously arranged,  being  situate  at  a  great 
distance  from  the  farms  to  which  they  belong. 

It  is  somewhat  singular  that  Middleton  Hall 
(one  of  the  principal  farms)  should  not  have  any 
pubic  road  allotted  to  it.  I  presume  it  has  been 
excused  from  maintaining  public  road  for  some 
suit  and  service  rendered. 

GOOSNARGH   CHURCH. 

Those  who  delight  in  coping  with  difficulties 
and  solving  obscure  questions  may  have  a  treat  in 
riddling  out  the  origin  and  foundation  of  Goos- 
nargh  Church,  for  after  the  most  diligent  enquiry  I 
am  free  to  confess  I  am  left  on  the  wide  and  un- 
certain field  of  conjecture.  Of  Goosnargh  Church 
the  historian,  Baines,  remarks  : — 

"  The  parochial  chapel  of  Goosnargh,  dedi- 
cated to  St.  Mary,  is  of  great  antiquity. 
In  the  north  aisle  is  the  Middleton  ''chapel" 
or  DCW." 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  55 

A  chantry*  was  reinstituted  here  in  1553,  and 
according  to  tradition  a  second  was  shortly  after- 
wards added.  Dr.  Whitaker  deems  the  present 
edifice  a  restoration  of  Henry  VIII.  The  reg- 
isters commenced  in  1639,  and  the  chapel  was 
repaired  in  1778.  The  arch  for  a  tombt,  and  the 
singularly-carved  stone  of  three  chevonels  for  a 
Singleton,  with  the  initials  of  a  Rigby,  are  still 
remaining  in  the  Middleton  choir. 

The  style  of  the  Church  is  what  architects  call 
mixed  or  debased  style,  so-called  from  its  being 
inferior  to  that  of  former  ages,  and  which  pre- 
vailed from  about  1380  until  about  the  close  of 
the  reign  of  Henry  VIII. — a  period  of  about  1 50 
years.  Many  of  the  ancient  churches  are  of  this 
style. 

Many  are  of  opinion  that  the  Church  is  much 
older  than  the  date  assigned  to  it  by  Whitaker, 
the  learned  historian  ;  but  if  we  except  the 
Middleton  "  quoir "  or  pew  there  is  nothing 
about  the  Church  indicative  of  very  old  age. 
This  "  quoir "  or  pew  is  unquestionably  much 
older  than  the  main  part  of  the  fabric.  The 
Gothic  or  pointed  window  was  introduced  be- 
tween the  reigns  of  Stephen  and  Henry  III.  (from 
1 1 35  and  1216),  and  prevailed  from  1190  to  1545, 
the  only  one  in  the  Church.  The  buttresses  on 
each  side  of  the  said  window  are  of  peculiar 
design,  and  the  masonry  altogether  is  much 
inferior  to  that  of  the  other  parts  of  the  Church; 
and  the  rude  hand  of  time  has  been  much  more 
telling  here  than  on  any  other  part  of  the  sacred 
edifice.  

*  A  Chantry  is  a  church  endowed  with  revenues  for  priests  to  sing 
mass  for  the  souls  of  the  donors. 

t  See  the  article  Middleton  "  Quire"  or  Pew,  page  65. 


56  GOOSNAKGH  : 

A  document  has  lately  been  found  at  the 
record  office,  which  throws  considerable  light  on 
the  foundation  of  this  chantry.  From  the  sub- 
joined extract  it  will  be  seen  that  Roger  Single- 
ton, by  deed  dated  22nd  August,  1508,  conveyed 
certain  messuages,  lands  and  services  in  Chaigh- 
ley,  Aighton,  Goosnargh,  and  Middleton,  to'cer- 
tain  trustees,  to  the  use  of  Christopher  Parkinson, 
chaplain  of  the  church  or  chapel  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  Mary,  in  Goosnargh,  to  the  intent  that 
he  and  his  successors  should  perform  certain 
services  in  the  chantry  there,  which  services  were 
more  fully  described  in  a  certain  deed  executed 
by  the  said  Roger  Singleton. 

The  exact  nature  of  the  services  to  be  performed 
are  not  named  in  the  deed  discovered,  but  its 
contents  prove,  beyond  doubt,  that  Roger  Single- 
ton founded  the  chantry,  which  was  endowed 
with  the  messuage  and  lands  called  Middleton, 
and  which  at  the  time  of  the  dissolution  of  the 
chantries  was  called  Goosnargh  Chantry. 

From  the  above  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Church 
was  originally  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  but  it  is 
not  now  commonly  known  by  that  name.  A 
croft  adjoining,  however,  still  retains  the  ancient 
name  of  St.  Mary's  croft. 

Excepting  part  of  the  chancel  end,  which  is 
comparatively  new,  the  stones  are  all  pebbles, 
and  tradition  says  that  they  were  procured  from 
Brock — a  large  brook  at  the  northern  boundary 
of  Goosnargh. 

The  stone  work  is  very  substantial,  and  appears 
to  be  nearly  as  firm  as  if  newly  erected ;  but,  ex- 
cepting the  "spinning  wheel,"  it  bears  no  date  or 
inscription  whatever. 


PAST    AND   PRESENT.  57 

The  tower  is  square,  and  is  sixty  feet  high,  and 
at  the  base  the  walls  are  nearly  six  feet  thick  ;  and 
if  the  old  adage  be  correct,  "  a  rocking  steeple 
never  tumbles,"  then  Goosnargh  Church  Tower 
bids  fair  to  stand  many  a  blast,  for  faith,  when 
the  bells  are  at  their  height  it  has  a  pretty 
gamesome  swing  with  it. 

About  thirty-two  years  ago  a  parishioner  of 
Gposnargh  wrote  as  follows: — 

'  Sixty  years  ago  some  over  officious  church- 
wardens, who  had  more  power  over  the 
public  purse  than  taste,  prudence,  or  good 
sense  in  laying  out  public  money,  took 
it  into  their  heads  to  roughcast  this 
venerable  edifice,  since  which  many  are 
the  coats  of  whitewash,  and  much  the 
cost  that  has  been  required  to  keep  it 
"  decent  and  in  order,"  and  which  at  the 
best  was  only  about  as  becoming  as  dres- 
sing an  old  lady  in  her  great  grand-daugh- 
ter's white  frock. 

Common-sense  churchwardens,  let  me 
have  a  word  with  you.  Knock  off  the 
"  roughcast,"  if  not  all  in  one  year,  do  it  by 
piece  meal,  as  means  will  permit  of;  and 
fill  up  the  crevices  of  the  stones  with  good 
cement,  and  let  the  old  Church  appear  once 
more  in  the  likeness  of  an  old  Church,  so 
that  in  a  few  years  at  the  most  you  will 
save  the  chapelry  the  trouble  of  a  Church 
disfiguring,  and  a  worse  than  Church  white- 
washing, wasteful  expenditure.  Query  ! 
How  much  money  has  been  paid  to  dis- 
figure the  exterior  of  the  Church  during 
the  last  eighty  years  ?" 


58  GOOSNARGH  : 

The  said  parishioner  lived  to  see  his  wish 
carried  out. 

The  fittings  of  the  Church  have  evidently 
undergone  various  alterations,  but  no  part  of 
the  wood-work  bears  the  mark  of  old  age.  The 
timbers  carry  many  dates,  but  not  one  prior  to 
the  1 6th  century. 

The  oldest  date  found  about  the  Church  was 
formerly  in  the  inside  of  a  panel  of  a  pew  belong- 
ing to  Sudal  House,  Whittingham  ;  the  inscrip- 
tion is  as  follows: — R.H.  161-  E.R.  1700,  the 
latter  figure  of  the  former  inscription  being 
broken  off.  The  panel  above  alluded  to  appears 
to  have  been  part  of  the  fitting  of  a  former  seat. 

The  other  dates  and  inscriptions  as  they  were 
previous  to  the  restoration  of  the  Church  in 
1868-9  follow  according  to  seniority: — 

On  the  south  screen  of  Middleton  quoir,  A.R. 
1622  (Alexr.  Rigby.) 

Over  the  west  entrance  to  the  chancel,  R.C. 
J.L.  J.J.  J.W.  1678.* 

On  the  inner  door  leading  to  the  tower  stair- 
case, N.W.R.WJ.M.W.W.  i68o.t 

On  the  churchwarden's  pew.  R.P.  C.H.  G.W. 
E.G.  1701.11 

On  the  pulpit,  W.B.,  William  Bushell,  the 
father  of  the  founder  of  Goosnargh  Hospital,  1 707. 

On  the  front  of  the  singing  gallery,  J.T.  R.W. 
J.P.  W.W.  1708.11 

On  the  west  side  of  the  screen  of  Middleton 
quoir,  T.R.  1721. 

*  R.  Charnock,  John  Lancaster,  James  Johnson  and  John  Wareing. 
t  Nicholas  White,  Richard  Whittingham,  J.  M..  and  Willm.  Wareing. 
II  Richard  Parkinson,  Goldsmith,   Charles   Holmes,   Godfrey  Whit- 
tingham, and  Edward  Gabbot. 

IT  James  Taylor.  Richard  Ward,  John  Parkinson,  and  William  Walne. 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  59 

The  above  inscriptions  were  all  upon  oak,  and 
cut  in  relief. 

On  one  of  the  large  timbers  was  painted — 

"The  Revd.  C.  Hull,  B.D.,  C.Oliverson,  Wm. 
Gornall,  W.  Bailey,  J.  Eccles,  church- 
wardens: A.D.  1778.  The  expense  of 
repairing  this  Church,  ^"195  125.  6d." 

The  font  is  such  as  they  were  wont  to  be  made 
large  enough  to  admit  of  an  infant  being  immer- 
sed according  to  ancient  use,  when  it  was  required 
and  certified  that  the  child  "  might  well  endure 
it." 

In  front  of  the  hospital  gallery  was  a  small 
brass  tablet  to  the  memory  of  Dr.  William 
Bushell  (the  founder  of  Goosnargh  Hospital) 
inscribed  as  follows  : — 

SACRED  TO  THE  MEMORY 

OF 

WILLIAM       BUSHELL,      E  S  Q  R  .  , 

FOUNDER  OF  GOOSNARGH  HOSPITAL, 

WHO  DIED  JUNE  THE  VII., 

MDCCXXXV. 

ERECTED  BY  HIS  TRUSTEES  : 
MR.  RICHARD  LATHAM,  OF  EUXTON  ; 

MR.  HENRY  PORTER,  GOOSNARGH  ; 

MR.  ROBERT  LAYTHOM,  OF  EUXTON. 

MDCCC. 

Underneath  this  tablet  was  printed,  ''This 
gallery  erected  for  the  use  of  Dr.  Bushell's 
Charity."* 


*  Dr.  Bushell  claimed  descent  from  William  the  Conqueror,  his 
ancestors  having  come  over  with  that  monarch,  and  it  is  said  \vns  en- 
abled to  make  out  a  pretty  good  title,  and  that  the  family  enjoyed  con- 
siderable property  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Penwortham,  which  they 
received  as  a  grant  from  the  crown  for  services  rendered. 


6O  GOOSNARGH 

There  are  only  two  other  tablets  in  the  Church, 
which  are  of  marble,  one  is  to  the  memory  of 
James  Sidgreaves,  Esq.,  late  of  Inglewhite  Lodge, 
Goosnargh  ;  and  the  other  to  John  Burch 
Parker,  Esq.,  the  last  of  that  name,  of  an  ancient 
family  that  long  resided  in  this  neighbourhood, 
and  brother  to  the  late  Mrs.  German,  formerly 
of  Whittingham  House,  Whittingham. 

The  following  are  their  respective  inscrip- 
tions : — 

I.  H.  S. 

SACRED  TO  THE  MEMORY  OF 
JAMES      SIDGREAVES,      GENT., 

WHOSE  UNIVERSAL  BENEVOLENCE 

AND  UNBOUNDED  CHARITY  TO  THE  POOR 

RENDERED  HIM  IN  LIFE  RESPECTED  AND  BELOVED, 

IN  DEATH  SORELY  LAMENTED  BY  ALL  WHO  KNEW  HIM. 

HE  DIED  IN   THE  YEAR  OF  OUR  LORD  i8oS. 

AGED  42. 
HIS  FAITHFUL  WIDOW  AND  NINE  CHILDREN 

CAUSED  THIS  MONUMENT 

(THE  LAST  PLEDGE  OF  THEIR  AFFECTION) 
TO  BE  ERECTED  HERE. 
MAY  HE  REST  IN  PEACE. 

The  following  is  the  inscription  upon  Mr. 
Parker's  tablet,  over  which  is  a  stag's  head,  the 
crest  of  the  family  : — 

THIS  TABLET 
IS    ERECTED    TO    THE    MEMORY    OF 

JOHN      BURCH      PARKER, 
WHO  DEPARTED  THIS  LIFE  AUGUST  igrn,  1844, 

AGED  22  YEARS, 
BY  HIS  AFFECTIONATE  SISTER,  MARTHA  GERMAN. 

I.H.S. — Jesu.  hominum  Salvator  (Jesus  the  Saviour  of  Men). 
May  he  rest  in  peace. — May  his  posterity  as  truly  earn  and  as  justly 
deserve  a  like  epitaph. 


PAST   AND    PR?:SENT.  6  I 

The  pews  and  seats  having  been  built  at 
various  times  over  a  period  of  at  least  200  years, 
were  up  to  1869  of  various  shapes,  sizes,  and 
designs,  the  whole  of  which  with  the  exception 
of  the  singing  gallery  and  a  small  space  under- 
neath it  were  appropriated  to  farms  in  the 
chapelry,  and  the  custom  was  when  an  estate  was 
disposed  of  the  Church  sitting  went  with  the 
property  to  which  it  was  appropriated,  and  was 
then  thought  could  not  by  any  means  be  separ- 
ated therefrom.  However,  when  the  Church  was 
restored  in  1869-70,  the  seats  were  all  declared 
free,  the  wardens  allotting  them  for  the  time 
being.  There  is  a  record  of  all  the  sittings  in 
the  vestry  book  as  they  were  formerly  appro- 
priated. 

In  1564,  Queen  Elizabeth  ordered  that  the 
Apostles'  Creed  and  the  Lord's  Prayer  should  be 
set  up  at  the  east  end  of  all  churches,  and  they 
were  formerly  so  set  up  in  Goosnargh  Church,  but 
at  the  restoration  of  the  said  Church  in  1869, 
they  were  consigned  to  the  ringing  room  and 
there  they  remain.  But  what  of  that — in  the 
place  thereof  we  have  some  pretty  flowers  and  a 
cross  ! ! ! 

The  lion  and  unicorn,  the  royal  arms,  on  a 
large  scale,  were  also  exhibited  at  the  east  end  of 
the  Church  over  the  hospital  gallery,  but  dis- 
appeared at  the  said  restoration.  The  conjunction 
of  those  animals  on  an  ecclesiastical  vestment,  of 
the  period  of  the  reformation,  must  be  attributed 
to  religious  symbolism  :  the  lion  typifying  forti- 
tude and  strength,  and  the  unicorn  emblematic 
of  fortitude  and  chastity — both  may  well  be 
spared  in  God's  House 


62  GOOSNAKGH  : 

THE  TOWER. 

The  tower  is  ascended  by  a  winding  staircase 
(of  rather  uneven  pitch),  landing  on  a  floor  of 
lead,  in  which  is  cast  the  following  inscription: — 

GVLIELMVS      BVSHEL, 

RECTOR  ECCLESIA, 

DE  HEYSHAM, 

ET 

MINISTER  VIVS. 
J.C.  J.H.  J.S.  W.W.  1715. 

Otherwise  in  plain  mother  tongue  — 

WILLIAM       BUSHEL, 

RECTOR  OF,  AND 
PREACHER  AT  HEYSHAM*  CHURCH  : 

ALSO 

MINISTER  FOR  THE  TIME  BEING  HERE. 
JC.  J.H.  J.S.  W.W.  i7i5.t 

The  tower  has  six  bells,  which  for  melody  are 
said  to  be  equalled  by  few  and  surpassed  by 
none. 

Formerly,  bells  told  tales  as  follows : — 1| 

No.  I .  Christopher  Swaneson,  A.M.,  Minister, 
1742. 

No.  2.  Prosperity  to  the  Church  of  England. 
A.R.t  1742. 

No.  3.     Abr.  Rudhall  ||  cast  us  all.     1713. 

No.  4.  God  preserve  the  Church  and  Queen 
Ann.  1713. 

*  Heysham,  in  Worstershire. 

t  John  Clarkson,  John  Helme,  James  Sharpies,  and  William  Walne. 

I  Bells  were  first  introduced  into  churches  about  the  year  900,  and 
about  the  year  1030  began  to  be  baptised  before  they  were  hung  up. 
and  their  names  or  sentences  out  of  Scripture  were  cast  on  them  :  but  the 
fifth  has  lately  been  recast. 

t  The  initials  of  the  bell  founder.         ||  Of  Gloucester. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT.  63 

No.  5.     Wm.    Lancaster,    Edw.    Edmondson, 
Ralph  Millner,  Jn.  Grimbaldston,  C.  H.,  Wardens. 


No.  6.     I  to  the  church  the  living  call, 

And  to  the  grave  do  summon  all.   1753. 

In  1883  the  fifth  bell  being  cracked,  it  was  re- 
cast at  the  expense  of  Mr.  Richard  Newsham,  of 
Preston,  and  inscribed  as  follows  :  — 

Mears  and  Stainbank,  Founders,  London. 
The  Gift  of  Richard  Newsham,  of  Preston. 
Charles  Osborne  Gordon,  M.A.,  Vicar. 

John  Smith,        ^  Churchwardens, 
Thomas  Smith,  j       A.D.  1883. 

There  is  a  circular  figure  cut  in  relief  outside 
the  tower,  which  some  traditionists  say  is  the 
figure  of  the  ancient  linen  hand-wheel  (once  so 
much  used  in  this  neighbourhood),  and  is  to  the 
memory  of  some  good  old  lady  or  other  who  built 
the  steeple  to  the  height  of  the  wheel  with  money 
she  managed  to  save  from  her  earnings  when 
wages  were  only  a  penny  a  day. 

But  some  antiquaries  say  (and  I  think  with 
much  more  probability),  that  the  "wheel"  is  the 
astrologer's  stamp,  and  that  the  founders  or  build- 
ers of  the  Church  being  carried  away  by  the  then 
prevailing  delusion  regarding  witches,  and  having 
faith  in  the  power  of  those  astrologers,  who, 
through  the  ignorance  and  wickedness  of  the 
time,  were  enabled  to  carry  their  machinations 
to  such  an  incredible  height  in  this  neighbour- 
hood, caused  one  of  the  said  fraternity  to  put 
his  seal  upon  it,  to  protect  it  from  harm.  —  If  true, 
thanks  to  the  influence  of  education  in  dispelling 


64  GOOSXARGH  : 

such  wicked  and  absurd  notions.     On  the  ''spin- 
ning wheel1'  also  see  Fishwick. 

MIDDLETON    "QUIRK"    OR    PEW. 

Of  Middleton  "Quire"  or  Pew,  and  the  Church 
generally,  "Anonymous,"  in  the  Preston  Chron- 
icle of  1849,  rather  complimentary  says:  — 
"We  don't  profess  to  be  much  of  an  antiquary, 
but  we  have  sufficient  developement  of  the 
organ  of  veneration,  to  enjoy  a  saunter 
through  an  old  church,  and  the  ancient 
parochial  chapel  at  Goosnargh,  which 
with  no  pretensions  whatever  to  architec- 
tural excellence,  has  some  interesting  anti- 
'  quarian  memorials  about  it  that  carry  our 
thoughts  back  to  times  long  since  past.  In 
the  church-yard  are  many  tombstones,  re- 
cording that  the  inhabitants  of  this  pecu- 
liarly healthy  district  have  enjoyed  a  green 
old  age  before  they  have  been  summoned  to 
another  world,  and  many  a  stone  "with 
uncouth,  sculpture  decked,"  narrating  the 
death  of  some  "mute  inglorious  Milton," 
or  some  "Cromwell,  guiltless  of  his  coun- 
try's blood,"  teaches  the  rustic  moralist  to 
die." 

Antiquaries  and  searchers  of  ecclesiastical  his- 
tory consider  that  the  present  ancient  structure 
is  not  the  first  church  at  which  the  ancestors  of 
the  present  inhabitants  of  Goosnargh  worshipped, 
but  that  the  venerable  pile,  with  its  aisles  and 
chapel,  and  embattled  tower,  replaced  an  earlier 
structure,  erected  probably  some  hundred  years 
before.  We  believe  that  the  date  assigned  to  the 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  65 

present  building  is  somewhere  about  the  time  of 
that  "model  monarch" — the  English  Bluebeard — 
Henry  the  VIII.,  but  about  its  date  we  shall 
neither  make  a  disquisition  nor  institute  a  search  ; 
but  on  this  point  we  will  pin  our  faith  on  the 
sleeve  of  the  late  learned  historian  of  Whalley, 
Dr.  Whittaker. 

"  The  interior  of  the  Church  is  really  primitive ; 
plain  old  oak  forming  the  material  of  the 
fittings.  The  chancel  belongs  to  Christ 
Church,  Oxford,  the  patrons  of  the  Vicarage 
of  Kirkham,  of  which  the  Township  of 
Goosnargh-with-Newsham  forms  a  part. 

The  old  chapel  belonging  to  Middleton 
Hall  is  a  curious  part  of  the  Church.  It  is 
very  ancient,  and  has  at  some  time  or 
other  formed  a  private  chapel  of  a  noted 
family.  It  was  long  the  property  of  the 
Rigby's,  and  is  now  part  of  the  possessions 
of  their  representative  descendant,  Wil- 
liam Shaw,  esquire,  of  Preston.  There 
is  on  the  screen  the  inscription  A.R.,  1622, 
being  the  initials  of  some  member  of  the 
family.  In  the  chapel  is  an  arch  for  a 
tomb,*  and  a  curious  old  tomb-stone  of 
some  distinguished  soldier.  There  is  no 
clue  to  its  date.  The  arms  carved  on  it 
are  those  of  the  Singletons,  the  former 
owners  ;  but  there  are  also  on  it  the  initials 
A.R.  for  some  Rigbye,  but  these  letters  are 
evidently  of  later  date  than  the  other  part 
of  the  memorial.  There  is  one  fact  worthy 
of  notice  in  Goosnargh  Church.  Like  many 


*  See  the  Remarks  on  Chancels  by  A.  Paley,  page  66. 
E 


66  GOOSNARGH  : 

other  country  churches,  it  has  received  the 
touches  of  would-be  improving  church- 
wardens. The  oaken  rafters  of  the  open 
roof  are  whitewashed,  and  stone  pillars 
that  support  the  roof  are  coloured  !  It  is 
very  well  the  marble  monuments  are  of 
late  date,  or  they  probably  would  have 
been  painted." 

The  chancel  belongs  to  Christ  Church,  Oxford, 
the  patrons  of  the  Vicarage  of  Kirkham,  of  which 
the  Township  ofGoosnargh-with-Newsham  forms 
a  part,  and  is  kept  in  repair  by  them,  and  has  es- 
caped more  of  the  touches  of  those  "  would-be 
improving  churchwardens,"  of  which  the  above 
writer  complains,  than  many  of  the  other  parts 
of  the  edifice. 

The  remarks  of  A.  Paley,  M.A.,  of  St.  John's 
College,  Cambridge,  on  the  Chancels  of  Churches 
before  the  Reformation,  accord  pretty  closely 
with  the  chancel  of  this  Church,  and  perhaps  may 
not  be  uninteresting  here. 

"The  chancel,  which  in  smaller  churches  corres- 
ponds with  the  choir  of  our  cathedrals, 
derives  its  name  from  the  latin  word, 
cancelli,  that  is,  railings  or  lattice-work, 
because  it  always  was,  and  even  now  not 
unfrequently  is,  separated  from  the  nave  by 
a  wooden  screen  called  the  rood  screen, 
which  we  shall  hereafter  describe.  This 
portion  of  the  church  was  considered  the 
most  sacred,  and  is  invariably  situate  at 
the  east  end.  It  is  usually  somewhat  nar- 
rower and  lower  than  the  body  of  the 
edifice,  and  the  floor  is  generally  elevated 
above  that  of  the  latter." 


PAST    AND   PRESENT.  67 

The  east  window  seems  at  one  time  to  have  been 
considerably  longer  than  it  now  is,  some  two 
or  three  feet  having  apparently  been  built  up, 
which  gives  it  a  very  dwarfed  and  stunted  effect 
when  seen  from  the  interior. 

CHURCH-YARD. 

The  cemetery,  before  it  was  enlarged  in  the 
year  1871,  including  the  site  of  the  Church,  was 
ir.  27^).,  customary  measure,  and  is  the  freehold 
of  the  minister  for  the  time  being. 

There  was  formerly  a  capacious  bone-house 
attached  to  the  north-west  corner  of  the  tower, 
filled  to  the  brim  with  the  mouldering  remains 
of  our  ancestors,  reminding  us  of  the  lines: — 

Let  us  with  solemn  footsteps  go, 
To  charnels  and  the  house  of  woe. 

By  an  order  from  the  Bishop  of  Chester  (when 
he  had  jurisdiction  here),  the  bone-house  was 
taken  down  in  the  year  1851,  and  the  remains 
interred  near  to  the  north-west  corner  of  the 
church-yard. 

THE  "PATRONS  OF  GOOSNARGH." 

The  Oliversons  have  a  family  vault  here ;  it 
was  built  in  the  year  i846,  by  the  late  Christopher 
Oliverson,  esquire,  of  Westneld  House,  Goos- 
nargh,  on  whose  death,  which  took  place  on  the 
2nd  day  of  February,  1852,  a  would-be  village 
poet  paid  his  tribute  thus : — 

Oh,  day  of  grief !     Oh,  sad  the  hour  ! 
The  muffled  bell  from  yonder  tower, 
Proclaimed  forth  to  many  an  ear, 
The  death  of  one  so  justly  dear. 
E  2 


68  GOOSNARGH  : 

Where  shall  my  muse  begin  the  lay  ? 
What  of  his  virtues  shall  I  say  ? 
How  half  do  justice  to  the  praise 
Of  him  who  now  has  closed  his  days  ? 

Most  unassuming,  kind  and  good, 
The  foremost  in  the  rank  he  stood  ; 
A  rank  he  justly  earned  by  fame, 
And  not  by  station  or  high  name. 

Of  prudent,  humble,  modest  mien, 
And  temper  sweet  as  e'er  was  seen  ; 
For  rectitude  he  ne'er  was  past, 
Nor  ne'er  will  be  while  time  shall  last. 

His  country's  good  laid  near  his  heart, 
His  lib'ral  hand  played  well  its  part ; 
A  man  he  was  of  virtues  rare, 
And  memory  long  will  hold  him  dear. 

His  bounteous  plans  were  void  of  self, 
Respect  he  ne'er  would  pay  to  pelf; 
But  worthy  men  of  any  station, 
Always  met  his  approbation. 

Man  of  men  !  of  such  a  cast  o'mind, 
Where  shall  I  look  his  like  to  find  ? 
May  his  blood  unalloyed  run, 
Through  daughter's  daughter  and  son's  son. 

Except  for  the  mercer's  gains, 
This  time  he  might  have  spared  his  pains  ; 
For  hundreds  who  in  silk  ne'er  dres't, 
Long  time  will  hold  his  mem'ry  blest. 

The  shoulder  knot  (the  badge  of  woe), 
And  waving  band  may  cast  a  show ; 
*   *  *   I've  that  within  that  passes  show, 
These  but  trappings, — the  suits  of  woe  ! 

The  sculptor  need  not  carve  his  fate, 
'  Tis  graven  deep  on  mem'ry's  plate  ; 
For  real  worth's  alone  held  dear, 
And  justly  claims  affection's  tear. 

Can  I  forbear  that  tribute's  tear, 
To  part  with  thee  my  friend  so  dear  ? 
A  friend  I've  only  known  in  part, 
Until  his  day  we  now  do  part. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  69 

Oh,  may  my  deeds  be  pure  as  his ! 
And  but  spring  from  faith  in  Jesus 
As  his  did  spring  ;   I  hope  and  trust 
We  then  shall  meet  among  the  just. 

Meet  Jesus  with  His  holy  band  ; 
Meet  men  of  God  from  every  land  ; 
Meet  old  friends  and  millions  more  ; 
Meet  all  the  good  to  part  no  more. 

Yet  day  of  grief!     Yet  sad  the  hour ! 
The  muffl'd  bell  from  yonder  tower, 
Proclaimeth  forth  to  many  an  ear, 
The  death  of  one  so  justly  dear. 

INSCRIPTIONS    ON   TOMBSTONES. 

Altogether  there  are  about  250  gravestones  in 
the  yard ;  the  following  is  the  inscription  of  the 
oldest : — 

Here  lieth  interred  the  body  of  John  Green, 
aged  59  years  and  4  months,  who  departed  this 
life  on  Munday,  the  4th  day  of  September, 
anno  domini,  1668. 

Here  lieth  interred  the  body  of  Christopher, 
brother  twin  of  the  above-named  John  Green, 
who  died  in  the  88th  year  of  his  age. 

nono  Decembris  anno  dom,  1697.  * 

Many  of  the  insciptions  on  the  moss-grown 
stones  are  very  brief,t  recording  no  more  than 
that  somebody,  but  who,  nobody  now  knows,  was 
born  on  a  certain  day  or  during  a  certain  year,  and 
died  at  some  stated  time.  But  some  of  the  more 
modern  ones  are  very  fulsome  in  their  praise  of 
the  departed,  and  speak  with  every  confidence 
of  their  final  destination  ;  but  to  use  the  language 

"John  Green  and  his  twin  brother,  Christopher,  were  the  ancestors  of 
the  Crosses  of  Brook  Cottage,  Goosnargh. 

tFew  tomb  stones  exist  prior  to  the  i6th  century. 


7<D  GOOSNARGH  : 

of  a  certain  pithy  writher,  it  is  to  be  feared  that 
"  if  some  of  the  dead  were  to  come  to  life  again, 
and  read  the  epitaphs  which  their  friends  have 
placed  over  them,  they  would  imagine  they  had 
got  into  the  wrong  graves ; "  for — 

*  *  *  "Oft  upon  the  stone  is  seen, 
not  what  they  were,  but  what  they  should  have 
been ; "  or,  as  Dr.  Watts  puts  it,  "  Taught  to  flat- 
ter and  to  lie". 

Poetical  art  has,  in  a  few  instances,  been  called 
into  requisition,  and  some  of  the  verses  are  very 
pretty,  and  at  least  convey  good  morals.  A  copy 
of  one  or  two  may  not  be  unacceptable. 

As  falls  the  leaves  in  autumn,  so  must  we, 

Tho'  ne'er  so  blooming,  yield  to  fates  decree  ; 

The  young,  the  strong,  the  weak,  the  healthy  must, 

At  the  Almighty's  call,  return  to  dust. 
The  above  verse  is  placed  over  the  remains  of 
two  young  women,  who  were  killed  almost  in- 
stantaneously by  the  accidental  ignition  of  gun- 
powder, which  had  been  placed  in  the  kitchen 
oven  in  Lower  Trotter  House,  and  not  noticed 
when  the  oven  was  heated. 

The  following  lines  are  pithy,  pretty,  and  ex- 
pressive : — 

A  loving  wife,  a  mother  dear, 
A  faithful  friend  I  buried  here  ; 
She  lived  in  love,  and  died  in  peace, 
I  hope  her  joys  will  never  cease. 

In  the  north-east  part  of  the  Church-yard  are 
tombstones  which  mark  the  family  vault  of  the 
Oliverson  family,  the  patrons  of  Goosnargh.  The 
inscriptions  read : — 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Richard  Oliverson, 
late  of  Goosnargh,  who  departed  this  life  on  the 
24th  of  November,  1799,  m  the  53rd  year  of  his 
age. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT.  7 1 

Also  of  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  who  departed  this 
life  on  the  TSth  day  of  June,  1823,  in  the  68th 
year  of  her  age. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Isabella,  daughter  of 
Richard  and  Isabella  Oliverson,  who  departed 
this  life  on  the  8th  April,  1813,  in  the  2gth  year 
of  her  age. 

And  of  Agnes,  also  daughter  of  Richard  and 
Elizabeth  Oliverson,  who  departed  this  life  on 
the  28th  March,  1846,  in  the  yoth  year  of  her  age. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Christopher,  son  of 
Richard  and  Elizabeth  Oliverson,  who  departed 
this  life  on  the  2nd  day  of  February,  1852,  in  the 
78th  year  of  his  age. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Richard  Oliverson, 
late  of  Portland  Place,  London,  son  of  Richard 
and  Elizabeth  Oliverson,  who  departed  this  life 
on  the  28th  of  February,  1852,  in  the  77th  year 
of  his  age. 

And  of  Ann  his  wife,  who  departed  this  life  at 
Hastings,  on  the  6th  day  of  January,  1840,  in  the 
54th  year  of  her  age. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Thomas  Oliverson, 
late  of  Montague  Square,  London,  son  of  Richard 
and  Elizabeth  Oliverson,  who  departed  this  life 
on  the  1 7th  of  April,  1861,  in  the  7gth  year  of 
his  age. 

And  of  Robert  Oliverson,  late  of  Avonmore 
Lodge,  Reigate,  Surrey,  son  of  Richard  and  Eliza- 
beth Oliverson,  who  departed  this  life  on  the  22nd 
of  October,  1868,  in  the  8oth  year  of  his  age. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Christopher  Oliverson, 
third  son  of  the  late  Christopher  Oliverson,  of 
WestfielJ,  Goosnargh,  who  was  born  Nov.  3rd, 
1836.  and  died  August  1st,  1877. 


7O  GOOSNARGH  : 

of  a  certain  pithy  writher,  it  is  to  be  feared  that 
"  if  some  of  the  dead  were  to  come  to  life  again, 
and  read  the  epitaphs  which  their  friends  have 
placed  over  them,  they  would  imagine  they  had 
got  into  the  wrong  graves ; "  for — 

*  *  *  "Oft  upon  the  stone  is  seen, 
not  what  they  were,  but  what  they  should  have 
been ; "  or,  as  Dr.  Watts  puts  it,  "  Taught  to  flat- 
ter and  to  lie". 

Poetical  art  has,  in  a  few  instances,  been  called 
into  requisition,  and  some  of  the  verses  are  very 
pretty,  and  at  least  convey  good  morals.  A  copy 
of  one  or  two  may  not  be  unacceptable. 

As  falls  the  leaves  in  autumn,  so  must  we, 

Tho'  ne'er  so  blooming,  3'ield  to  fates  decree  ; 

The  young,  the  strong,  the  weak,  the  healthy  must, 

At  the  Almighty's  call,  return  to  dust. 
The  above  verse  is  placed  over  the  remains  of 
two  young  women,  who  were  killed  almost  in- 
stantaneously by  the  accidental  ignition  of  gun- 
powder, which  had  been  placed  in  the  kitchen 
oven  in  Lower  Trotter  House,  and  not  noticed 
when  the  oven  was  heated. 

The  following  lines  are  pithy,  pretty,  and  ex- 
pressive : — 

A  loving  wife,  a  mother  dear, 
A  faithful  friend  I  buried  here  ; 
She  lived  in  love,  and  died  in  peace, 
I  hope  her  joys  will  never  cease. 

In  the  north-east  part  of  the  Church-yard  are 
tombstones  which  mark  the  family  vault  of  the 
Oliverson  family,  the  patrons  of  Goosnargh.  The 
inscriptions  read : — 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Richard  Oliverson, 
late  of  Goosnargh,  who  departed  this  life  on  the 
24th  of  November,  1799,  *n  the  53rd  year  of  his 
age. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT.  71 

Also  of  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  who  departed  this 
life  on  the  I5th  day  of  June,  1823,  in  the  68th 
year  of  her  age. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Isabella,  daughter  of 
Richard  and  Isabella  Oliverson,  who  departed 
this  life  on  the  8th  April,  1813,  in  the  2gth  year 
of  her  age. 

And  of  Agnes,  also  daughter  of  Richard  and 
Elizabeth  Oliverson,  who  departed  this  life  on 
the  28th  March,  1846,  in  the  yoth  year  of  her  age. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Christopher,  son  of 
Richard  and  Elizabeth  Oliverson,  who  departed 
this  life  on  the  2nd  day  of  February,  1852,  in  the 
78th  year  of  his  age. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Richard  Oliverson, 
late  of  Portland  Place,  London,  son  of  Richard 
and  Elizabeth  Oliverson,  who  departed  this  life 
on  the  28th  of  February,  1852,  in  the  77th  year 
of  his  age. 

And  of  Ann  his  wife,  who  departed  this  life  at 
Hastings,  on  the  6th  day  of  January,  1840,  in  the 
54th  year  of  her  age. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Thomas  Oliverson, 
late  of  Montague  Square,  London,  son  of  Richard 
and  Elizabeth  Oliverson,  who  departed  this  life 
on  the  1 7th  of  April,  1861,  in  the  79th  year  of 
his  age. 

And  of  Robert  Oliverson,  late  of  Avonmore 
Lodge,  Reigate,  Surrey,  son  of  Richard  and  Eliza- 
beth Oliverson,  who  departed  this  life  on  the  22nd 
of  October,  1868,  in  the  8oth  year  of  his  age. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Christopher  Oliverson, 
third  son  of  the  late  Christopher  Oliverson,  of 
WestfielJ,  Goosnargh,  who  was  born  Nov.  3rd, 
1836.  and  died  August  ist,  1877. 


74  GOOSNARGH  : 

And  but  for  that  sad  shrouded  eye 
That  fires  not,  wins  not,  weeps  not  now  ; 
And  but  for  that  chill  changeless  brow 
Where  cold  obstruction's  apathy 
Appals  the  gazing  mourner's  heart, 
As  if  to  him  it  could  impart 
The  doom  he  dreads,  yet  dwells  upon. 
Yes,  but  for  these,  and  these  alone, 
Some  moments,  aye,  one  treacherous  hour, 
He  still  might  doubt  the  tyrant's  power  ; 
So  fair,  so  calm,  so  softly  seal'd, 
The  first  last  look  by  death  reveal'd  !" 

To  the  sensitive  mind  "the  viewing  of  the 
bodies"  was  a  spectacle  irresistably  summoning 
up  a  train  of  reflections  at  once  awe-inspiring 
and  self  humiliating,  and  filling  the  heart  with 
emotions  so  novel  in  character  and  intense  in 
degree,  as  to  rob  it  of  all  power  of  utterance. 

From  sundry  accounts  of  the  eccentricity  of 
the  mother's  previous  conduct  which  were  given 
in  evidence  at  the  inquest,  the  jury  returned  a 
verdict  of  wilful  murder  against  the  mother, 
committed  under  the  influence  of  insanity.  The 
prevailing  opinion  being  that  a  high  spirit 
labouring  under  adverse  circumstances  (in  other 
words  pride  and  poverty — two  poor  mates),  were 
the  chief  cause. 

Their  names  and  ages  were  as  follows  : — Ann 
Sanderson,  aged  32  years  (31  years  was  errone- 
ously marked  upon  her  coffin)  ;  Eleanor,  aged  12 
years  ;  Daniel  James,  aged  9  years ;  Margaret, 
aged  6  years ;  Robert,  aged  4  years ;  William, 
aged  2  years. 

A  subscription  was  opened  mainly  through 
the  instrumentality  of  the  minister  of  White- 
chapel,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Benn,  for  the  bereaved 
husband  Edward  Sanderson,  and  a  handsome 


PAST    AND   PRESENT.  75 

sum  was  obtained,  wherewith  his  debts  were  dis- 
charged and  some  provision  made  to  better  his 
future  prospects  in  life. 

A  brief  sketch  of  the  life  of  this  unfortunate 
woman  may  not  be  uninteresting. 

Ann  Partridge,  for  that  was  the  name  she  bore 
previous  to  her  marriage  with  Edward  Sander- 
son, was  born  at  Ambleside,  Westmorland,  on 
the  29th  of  October,  1805.  Her  father  followed 
the  employment  of  weaving  linsey-woolseys,  was 
married  at  St.  Bees  on  the  1 6th  of  October,  1798, 
and  had  three  children,  of  whom  Ann  was  the 
youngest.  Eventually,  however,  he  laid  aside 
his  occupation,  and  enlisted  in  the  2nd  Royal 
Lancashire  Militia.  From  that  regiment  he 
volunteered  at  Warrington  for  seven  years  into 
the  47th,  and  passing  over  into  Spain,  was  en- 
gaged in  several  battles,  and  ultimately  taken 
prisoner  by  the  French,  by  whom  he  was  con- 
fined in  the  prison  of  Bayonne.  The  widowed 
mother  in  order  to  procure  subsistence  and  to 
bring  up  her  offspring  engaged  herself  in  the 
capacity  of  a  monthly  nurse.  Ann,  likewise 
as  she  advanced  in  age,  was  employed  by  the 
neighbours  to  nuise,  but  in  process  of  time  she 
entered  into  service  at  the  house  of  Mr.  John 
Holme,  the  Golden  Ball,  in  Ambleside.  From 
thence  she  passed  into  the  employ  of  Mr.  Lady- 
man,  Low  Wood  Inn,  near  Ambleside,  where  she 
remained  half  a  year.  About  this  time  Mrs. 
Gibson,  of  Quernmore  Park,  wrote  to  Mrs.  Wil- 
son, Dove  Street,  Ambleside,  for  a  servant  as 
kitchen  maid,  and  to  this  situation  Ann  Partridge 
was  recommended  and  inducted.  After  the  death 
of  Mr.  Gibson  Mrs.  Gibson  was  anxious  for  Ann 


7  6  GOOSNARGH  : 

to  accompany  her  into  Cheshire,  but  the  latter 
preferred  entering  into  the  service  of  Hymen  and 
making  a  home  for  herself.  On  account  of  her 
youth,  for  she  was  then  only  18  years  Old,  her 
marriage  was  for  a  'time  prevented  by  the 
authority  of  her  mother.  Again  she  came  to 
Ambleside,  and  was  hired  by  Sherwood  Gell, 
Esq.,  of  the  Wood,  and  having  been  half  a  year 
in  that  place  she  engaged  with  a  family  occu- 
pying furnished  lodgings  at  Miller  Bridge,  not 
far  from  Ambleside ;  in  these  lodgings  the  family 
remained  but  a  short  time,  and  Ann  was  com- 
pelled to  seek  another  service.  Mr.  Willers,  of  the 
Castle  Hill,  Lancaster,  soon  afterwards  engaged 
her,  from  which  place  she  was  married,  about  13 
years  before  the  said  sad  event,  to  her  husband 
Edward  Sanderson.  After  their  marriage  they 
took  up  their  dwelling  at  Skerton,  and  Sanderson 
was  employed  as  a  day  labourer  at  Quernmore, 
from  which  place  he  used  only  to  return  home 
on  the  Saturday  evenings.  During  the  absence 
of  her  husband,  Ann  Sanderson  "looked  well  to 
the  ways  of  her  house,"  took  in  knitting  and 
sewing,  and  was  laudably  industrious.  She  was 
a  very  intelligent  woman,  and  remarkably  good 
looking,  of  a  high  spirited,  active  and  aspiring 
temperament,  but  somewhat  characterised  by 
eccentricity.  Her  great  and  predominant  failing 
however  appears  to  have  been  "empty  pride  :" 
an  ambition  to  rise  above  those  around  her. 
Discontented  with  the  humility  of  her  station 
and  desirous  of  improving  her  prospects  and  cir- 
cumstances she  prevailed  upon  her  mother,  who 
died  about  the  year  1836,  at  Ambleside,  to  lend 
heroic,  with  which  she  set  up  her  husband  in 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  77 

the  business  of  a  butcher.  In  this  business  they 
proved  unfortunate  and  lost  money,  hence  they 
were  induced  to  remove  into  Goosnargh,  and  at 
Fairhurst  they  commenced  shopkeeping.  Fortune 
again  frowned  upon  them  ;  they  became  involved 
in  debt,  real  or  imaginary  difficulties  surrounded 
them,  and  the  conduct  of  the  wife  became  marked 
by  a  great  degree  of  strangeness  and  eccentricity. 
On  the  1 8th  of  May,  1838,  she  left  her  husband 
and  family,  and  taking  with  her  the  youngest 
child,  she  set  out  upon  an  unknown  journey. 
To  her  husband,  who  furnished  her  with  what 
money  he  could  raise,  she  represented  that  she 
was  going  to  see  a  brother  who  lived  at  some 
distance.  She  was  however  heard  of  being  in 
Manchester,  and  eight  weeks  before  this  awful 
event  she  returned  home  announcing  to  her  hus- 
band that  the  brother  whom  she  had  been  to  see 
at  Chatham,  and  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  54th 
regiment,  had  died  of  the  cholera,  and  subse- 
quently his  wife  had  got  married  to  another  man. 
The  cold  earth  now  covers  her,  and  I  will  neither 
sow  a  thistle  nor  plant  a  thorn  on  the  grave  of 
her  whose  beautiful  face  and  fair  form  seems  to 
appear  before  me  as  I  write  these  remarks 

"  Observer,"  in  1853,  wrote  as  follows  : — "The 
burying  ground  is  very  much  crowded,  but  in 
consequence  of  so  many  other  cemeteries  having 
lately  been  established  in  this  neighbourhood, 
the  interments  are  not  so  numerous  as  they 
formerly  were." 

The  sexton,  Thomas  Parkinson,  has  held  his 
office  as  principal  or  assistant  during  the  long 
period  of  50  years,  and  can  point  out  the  exact 
locality  of  every  family  burying  ground  that  has 


7  8  GOOSNAKGH  : 

been  claimed  during  the  time  he  has  held  office, 
and  it  appears  that  no  other  person  has  much 
knowledge  of  their  situation.  A  plan  of  this 
"field  of  graves"  seems  to  be  very  desirable.  I 
cannot  compliment  the  Church  officers  upon  the 
good  order  in  which  they  keep  the  Church-yard  : 
the  graves  are  filled  too  high,  many  of  the  tomb 
stones  are  in  a  disgraceful  disorderly  state ;  the 
hedges  are  untrimmed,  and  the  causeway  is  about 
the  only  one  in  the  village  that  never  gets 
weeded.  (Since  the  above  was  written  a  plan  of 
the  grave-yard  has  been  made,  and  other  matters 
mended.) 

There  is  a  Sun-dial  in  the  burying  ground  so 
constructed  as  to  point  out  the  equated  time  to  a 
minute.  The  plate  has  on  it  the  following 
inscription,  and  the  engraving  is  first-rate  : — 

C.  Swainson,  M.A.,  Minr.  of  Goosnargh. 

Vive  memor,  quam  sis  sevi  brevis.  Hor. 

(Remember  how  short  a  time  you  have  to  live.) 

H.  Porter  of  Westfield  Delin.  &  Sculp.,  1748. 

Lat.  53°  38'. 

At  the  north-east  corner  of  the  Church  a  plain 
box  stone  bearing  the  following  inscription  marks 
out  Goosnargh  Hospital  burying  ground  : — "  This 
burying  ground  belongs  to  the  charity  founded 
by  Dr.  William  Bushell  in  the  year  1735." 

There  is  an  ancient  upright  cross  pedestal  in 
the  Church-yard.  The  cross  would  most  prob- 
ably be  erected  at  the  time  the  Church  was  built, 
inasmuch  as  no  place  of  worship  existed  prior  to 
the  Reformation,  or  I  believe  for  several  years 
afterwards,  in  communion  with  the  Church  of 
England  (I  borrow  this  cross  paragraph,  but  I 


PAST    AND    PRESENT.  79 

believe  from  good  authority),  where  the  cross 
was  not  to  be  found  near  the  principal  door  on 
the  south  where  it  was  probably  placed  to  re- 
mind the  faithful  of  the  sufferings  undergone  by 
their  Saviour  as  an  atonement  for  their  sins.  We 
find  it  adopted  at  a  very  early  age  of  the  Chris- 
tian church  as  an  emblem  of  their  salvation.  In 
process  of  time  it  was  abused  by  superstition  on 
the  one  hand  and  discarded  by  prejudice  on  the 
other.  Whether  of  these  feelings  is  the  greater 
enemy  to  true  religion  it  is  difficult  to  determine. 
(See  article  Cross  Stones.) 

From  60  to  70  years  ago  the  Church-yard  was 
very  properly  planted  round  with  forest  trees, 
such  as  chestnut,  poplar,  fir,  &c.  (than  which 
nothing  tends  more  to  set  off  to  advantage  an 
ancient  country  church),  but  the  Church-yard 
being  at  that  period  and  for  some  years  after- 
wards very  improperly  used  as  the  school  play 
ground.  Most  of  the  plants  were  destroyed, 
the  few  which  escaped  the  rude  hands  of  the 
school  boys  (mine  own  not  excepted)  bid  fair  to 
raise  their  heads  on  high  and  adorn  the  sacred 
spot. 

There  are  two  public  paths  through  the 
Church-yard  which  are  left  open  during  the  week- 
days ;  this  ill  accords  with  the  sacredness  of  the 
place,  especially  as  it  is  situated  so  near  to  a  large 
public  school,  and  as  one  of  the  paths  could  easily 
be  diverted,  and  with  but  very  little  if  any  incon- 
venience to  the  public,  it  is  to  be  hoped  the 
Church  authorities  will  ere  long  see  the  propriety 
and  exercise  their  authority  to  keep  the  ashes  of 
the  dead  with  more  becoming  sanctity.  One 
extreme  makes  theChurch-yard  a  public  thorough- 


8o  GOOSXARGH  : 

fare  over  people's  graves,  which  is  very  unseemly ; 
the  other  shuts  out  the  contemplative  visitor. 

Formerly  the  Church  tower  held  a  very  large, 
and  judging  from  the  hard  worn  wheels,  a  very 
ancient  clock,  but  of  its  origin  I  find  no  record, 
which  oft  required  to  be  reminded  by  its  more 
lowly  neighbour  of  what  false  steps  it  had  taken. 
And  previous  to  the  year  1*46  it  had  a  very 
shabby,  shattered,  hard  worn  face ;  it  was  of  wood, 
and  bore  the  date  1808,  on  which  an  anonymous 
writer  in  the  Preston  Chronicle  of  the  9th  April, 
1845,  rather  humourously  remarked — 

"  Of  all  improved  and  improving  places  in  the 
North  of  Lancashire,  I  think  Goosnargh 
village  stands  unrivalled  ;  and  as  that  far 
famed,  neat,  retired  spot  has  undergone  a 
transformation  from  '  the  pretty '  to  some- 
thing approaching  'the  magnificent,'  it 
has  I  think  Mr.  Editor  a  claim  upon  your 
notice  ;  for  wherever  much  is  done  much 
is  generally  made  to  appear  to  want 
doing.  Among  the  many  improvements 
which  have  been  made  and  are  in  progress, 
I  hope  that  registrar  of  time  with  his  one 
hand,  the  old  church  clock  will  not 
remain  long  neglected.  He  indeed  points 
out  as  well  as  he  is  able  in  his  crippled 
state  '  the  fleeting  moments  as  they  pass 
away  ;'  but  alas  !  his  shattered  frame  lets 
in  new  light  through  chinks  that  time 
has  made,  and  the  incessant  work  in 
which  he  has  been  so  long  engaged  now 
seems  more  than  his  single  arm  is  able 
to  perform.  He  certainly  struggles  hard, 
and  appears  almost  convulsed  with  efforts 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  8 1 

to  point  out  the  true  time,  but  seldom  if 
ever  succeeds,  save  when  with  iron  tongue 
he  proclaims  '  with  sad  and  solemn  sound ' 
that  another  period  of  existence  has  made 
its  exit — another  step  has  been  taken 
towards  '  the  house  appointed  for  all 
living.' 

I  believe  sir  his  crippled  state  is  not  owing 
to  any  defect  in  nature,  for  that  indeed  sel- 
dom errs,  but  that  the  fault  has  been  in 
nature's  journeyman  who  made  him  and 
did  not  make  him  well.  His  face  I  believe 
was  once  considered  handsome,  round, 
ruddy  and  plump  as  the  rising  sun  ;  but 
the  rude  handkrf  time  has  sadly  wrinkled 
his  forehead  and  also  shorn  off  his  chin. 
This  sir  is  a  faithful  description  of  our 
weather-beaten  monitor ;  and  I  think  if 
you  would  be  so  obliging  as  to  give  these 
few  remarks  a  corner  in  your  valuable 
journal,  they  would  be  responded  to  by  the 
proper  authorities." 

The  new  clock  is  thus  inscribed : — 

THIS  CLOCK   ERECTED 

A.D.   1861,  AT  THE  JOINT   EXPENSE  OF 

WM.  SHAW,  ESQR.,  OF  PRESTON,  AND 

RICHD.  OLIVERSON,  ESQR.,  OF  GOOSNARGH, ' 

AND   BY    THEM   PRESENTED   TO 

GOOSNARGH  CHURCH. 

SIMPSONS, 

MAKERS,  ,  PRESTON. 

The  patronage  of  the  Church  is  vested  in  the 
Dean  and  Chapter  of  Christ  Church,  Oxford,  and 
is  in  the  incumbency  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Osborne 
Gordon,  M.A.,  of  Exeter  College,  Oxford,  who 


82  GOOSNARGH  : 

was  appointed  to  the  cure  in  the  year  1883,  and 
the  Rev.  Wilson  Pedder  is  the  rural  dean. 

By  the  following  return,  which  was  made  in 
1717,  at  the  instigation  of  the  Bishop  of  Chester, 
it  will  appear  that  the  Church  was  then  a  very 
poor  living. 

A  copy  of  a  letter  sent  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bushell 
at  Goosnargh. 

"  By  direction  of  my  Lord  Bishop  of  Chester, 
you  are  desired  as  soon  as  you  conveniently 
can,  to  give  or  send  an  account  into  the 
public  registry  under  your  own  and  your 
churchwardens'  hands,  of  what  school  or 
schools  free  or  otherwise  are  kept  up  in 
your  parish  ;  when  and  by  whom  founded ; 
what  salary,  rents,  pensions,  or  exhibitions 
is  given  and  settled  to  the  maintenance  of 
the  master  or  masters  thereof ;  who  have 
the  right  of  nomination  of  the  masters  ; 
and  in  whose  custody  the  books  and 
instruments  relating  to  the  revenue  and 
government  of  such  school  or  schools  are 
lodged ;  and  also  an  account  of  all  other 
settled  charitys  besides  what  are  appro- 
priated to  the  maintenance  of  your  minister 
and  schoolmaster. 

J.  WAITE,  Dep.  Regr." 

The  letter  is  without  date,  but  by  what  follows 
appears  to  be  in  1717. 

Annual 
Payments. 
£     S.      D. 

An  ancient  foundation  from  Christ 
Church  in  Oxford  to  the  Chapel  in 
Goosnargh  of  the  salary  of 3  1 8  o 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  83 

Annual 
Payments. 
£       S.     D. 

An  additional  salary  from  do.  to  the 
said  Chapel,  founded  about  40  or  50 
years  ago 1600 

A  gift  from  Thomas  Threlfall  of  Whit- 
tingham  to  a  schoolmaster  in  Goos- 
nargh, founded  about  40  or  50 
years  ago 7  o  o 

An  additional  gift  to  the  School  in 
Goosnargh  founded  byoneColeburn 
and  paid  by  the  Company  of  Dra- 
pers in  London,  about  40  or  50 
years  ago,  being  25  o  o 

A  gift  from  William  Lancaster  of 
Goosnargh  to  a  schoolmaster  at 
Whitechapel  in  Goosnargh,  founded 
about  20  years  ago 200 

An  additional  gift  to  the  schoolmaster 
at  the  said  Chapel,  founded  by 
William  Higham,  this  year,  1717, 
being  600 

Also  a  gift  to  the  said  Chapel  founded 
by  the  said  William  Higham,  for  a 
minister  to  preach  monthly  there..  300 

Another  gift  by  do.  for  buying  books 

for  poor  children  that  learn  there...  I  o  o 

A  gift  to  the  poor  of  Goosnargh  and 
Whittingham,  founded  by  the  above 
named  Mr.  Coleburn,  and  paid  by 
the  said  Company 5  o  o 

Another  gift  to  the  poor,  founded  by 
one  John  Parkinson  about  40  years 
ago 15  o  o 

F  2 


84  GOOSNARGH  : 

Annual 
Payments. 
£     S.     D. 

Another  gift  to  the  poor,  founded  by 
one  Know  about  40  years  ago,  and 
payable  from  the  Loudscales  Estate 
within  Goosnargh  and  Chipping, 

being        210     o 

Another  gift  to  the  poor,  founded  by 
one  Mossily,  about  50  years  ago, 

being        i     o     o 

(Extracted  from  the  township's  minute  book 
of  1717),  from  which  I  also  borrow  the  following 
account  respecting  the  Queen's  Bounty : — 

An  account  in  what  manner  money  was  ad- 
vanced for  augmenting  the  salary  of  Goosnargh 
(Church)  in  order  to  obtain  the  Queen's  Bounty 
the  first  time. 

Whereas,  about  the  year  1715,  there  was  the 
sum  of  ^"50  belonging  to  the  poor  of  Goosnargh 
paid  into  the  hands  of  some  of  the  principal 
inhabitants,  which  said  sum  had  been  in  danger 
to  be  lost;  but  by  a  considerable  expense  and 
application  about  that  time  was  recovered.  And 
at  the  instigation  and  pressing  importunity  of 
the  late  Mr.  Bushell  (at  that  time  curate)  was 
placed  in  his  hand,  upon  a  bond  made  payable 
to  the  late  Mr.  James  Fishwick  and  Chr.  Park- 
inson, both  of  Goosnargh,  conditionally  that  if 
the  moneys  could  be  raised  to  augment  the  same 
to  ^"200,  it  should  be  applied  for  and  towards 
raising  the  Queen's  Bounty ;  otherwise,  and  in 
case  of  failure  herein,  the  same  should  return  and 
be  applied  according  to  its  original  institution  for 
the  benefit  of  the  poor.  But  the  scheme  being 
carried  into  execution  and  completed  about  the 


PAST  AND  PRESENT.  85 

year  1721,  the  particulars  were  advanced  as 
underwritten : — 

£       S.      D. 

The  poor  money  as  above  recited  ...  50  o  o 
Ash  wood  at  that  time  growing  in  the 

church-yard  taken  by  Mr.  Bushell 

at  50  o  o 

Allowed  by  do.  for  four  years'  interest 

of  the  ^"50  while  it  lay  in  his  hand  10  o  o 
Advanced  by  the  churchwardens  or 

other  officers   of    Goosnargh    the 

sum  of  10  17  i 

Do.  by  the  Township  of  Whitting- 

ham  their  proportion  to  ^"100  ...  29  3  4 
Given  by  the  late  Richard  Whitting- 

ham,  Esq.,  the  sum  of 30  o  o 

Do.  by  the  late  Lawrence  Parkinson, 

of  Cuerdale,  the  sum  of 20     o     o 


200     o     5 
Queen's  Bounty 200    o    o 


From  the  above  it  would  appear  that  the 
Queen's  Bounty  was  obtained  a  second  time  for 
Goosnargh  Church,  but  I  do  not  find  any  par- 
ticulars recorded  thereof. 

The  emoluments  of  the  Church  at  present 
stand  as  follows  : — 

£     s.    D. 
A  good  and  commodious  parsonage 

with   small   garden,    annual  value 

(Overseers)      21     5     o 

Farm  buildings  and  46a.  3r.  :6p.  of 

land  in  Whittingham    50     o     o 


86  GOOSNARGH  : 

£     S.     D. 

From  land  in  Whittingham  2a.  or.  up. 

(Tithe    Barn    Meadow,    where    a 

tithe  barn  formerly  stood)     ......       3     o     o 

From  land  in  Whittingham  ija.  y. 

26p  ......................     20    o    o 

From  land  in  Goosnargh  6a.  2r.  9p...  14  o  o 
Grant  from  Ecclesiastical  Commis- 

sioners, made  in  1841    .........     60    o     o 

Church  Fees  —  christnings,  church- 

ings,  marriages,  burials,tomb  stones, 

and  vaults,  say        ............     10     o     o 

From  Christ  Church,  Oxford  (paid 

from  the  tithes  of  Goosnargh)  ...  142  2  6 
From  Queen  Ann's  Bounty  (annual 

grant)*    ..................       6  16     o 

327     3     6 
Less  interest  of  money  borrowed 

for  repairs        ............     12     o    o 

3     6 


Gross  ^"315  3s.  6d.,  Net,  say  ^"300. 

CHURCH   FEES. 

Marriage  by  Banns  (paid  in  advance  ).\ 

£      S.      D. 

Minister's  Fee    ...............       060 

Clerk's        do  ................       026 

*  The  late  lamented  Richard  Oliverson  interested  himself  largely  in 
obtaining  this  grant,  and  I  doubt  not  influentially  too. 

t  Marriages  in  Churches  first  ordained  A.D.  1  200  ;  publication  of  banns 
A.D.  1200. 

By  the  nth  Canon  of  Westminster,  A  D.  1200,  it  was  enacted  that  no 
marriage  shall  be  contracted  without  banns,  three  times  published  in  the 
Church,  unless  by  special  authority  of  the  Bishop  . 


PAST   AND  PRESENT.  87 

Marriage  by  Licence. 

£      S.      D. 

Minister's  Fee    o  10     6 

Clerk's        do 030 

Churching  and  Christning. 

Minister's  Fee    Voluntary 

Clerk's        do do. 

Burial  of  Parishioners.  \\ 

Minister's  Fee    o     i     6 

Clerk's        do 006 

Sexton's  do.  Grave  5  feet  deep  2s., 
and  is.  for  every 
extra  foot. 

Do.         do.    Bearer       o     i     o 

Do.         do.    Passing  Bell     o     i     o 

Burial  of  Non- Parishioners. 

Minister's  Fee     2     2     o 

Clerk's        do 030 

Ringers  fees  are  £\  53.  each  per  annum,  and  3d. 

each  for  every  funeral. 
Making  a  vault  ^5,  opening  a  vault  £$. 

For  putting  down  Tomb  Stones. 

Minister's  Fee     I      i     o 

Clerk's        do o     2     6 

REPAIRS   OF   THE   CHURCH. 

The  chancel  of  the  Church  is  kept  in  repair  by 
the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Christ  Church,  Oxford. 

ll'The  first  Christian  burial  place  in  Britain  was  consecrated  in  the 
year'A.D.  596,  burying  in  Churches  A.D.  750. 


88  GOOSNARGH 

Middleton  "Quoir"  or  Pew,  by  the  owner  of 
Middleton  Hall,  Townley  Rigby  Knowles,  Esq. ; 
and  the  remainder  of  the  fabric  by  a  pound  rate 
levied  upon  the  occupiers  of  the  lower  division 
of  Goosnargh,  and  from  other  voluntary  sources, 
and  the  whole  of  Whittingham. 

Previous  to  the  year  1846,  when  the  new  eccle- 
siastical districts  were  formed,  Whitechapel  was  a 
"  Chapel-of-Ease  "  under  Goosnargh  Church,  but 
at  that  time  was  made  independent,  and  Goos- 
nargh was  also  tributary  to  Kirkham  Church, 
and  paid  thereto  IDS.  a  year,  but  since  the  said 
ecclesiastical  arrangement  it  has  been  exonerated 
from  the  said  charge,  and  for  ecclesiastical  pur- 
poses the  lower  division  of  Goosnargh  and  Whit- 
tingham is  the  Parish  of  Goosnargh. 


CHURCH   RATES. 

The  collection  of  Church  rates  here  has  led  to 
many  disputes,  though  they  are  but  trifling — 
£28  45.  5d.  being  the  sum  received  by  the 
churchwardens  from  that  source  for  the  year 
ending  Easter  1854 — but  I  suppose  it  was  the 
principle  rather  than  the  amount  that  was  the 
greatest  grievance. 

In  the  year  1868  Church  rates  were  made  vol- 
untary, and  so  the  quarrel  ceased. 

PARISH    CLERK. 

There  is  a  Parish  Clerk  here ;  this  functionary 
receives  a  salary  of  £ 6  6s.  a  year  for  his  services, 
which  is  paid  out  of  the  Church  rates. 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  89 

The  primitive  custom  of  the  service  being  per- 
formed by  the  minister  and  clerk  is  all  but 
obsolete  in  this  neighbourhood. 

An  old  lady  remarked  she  did  not  know  what 
things  would  come  to,  but  perhaps  before  long 
people  would  be  saying  Amen  for  themselves. 

SEXTON. 

The  Sexton  or  Beadle  of  the  Church  has  a 
salary  of  ^"5  45.  a  year,  which  also  is  paid  out  of 
the  Church  rates,  in  addition  to  the  fees.  His 
duties  are  to  attend  upon  the  funerals,  clean  the 
Church,  wind  up  the  clock,  heat  the  Church,  and 
keep  the  yard  in  order. 

GOOD    OLD   CUSTOM. 

Previous  to  the  appointment  of  rural  police  a 
good  old  custom  prevailed  here  which  acted  as  a 
preventive  to  evil.  The  churchwardens  went 
their  beat  during  the  hours  of  divine  service,  but 
somehow  or  other  they  seemed  to  consider  the 
afternoon  not  quite  so  sacred  as  the  morning. 

STICKING    BILLS. 

It  is  the  custom  to  stick  various  kinds  of  bills 
on  the  Church  door,  and  in  some  instances  the 
law  (but  it  is  not  a  good  law)  compels  it. 

A  most  ridiculous  custom  formerly  prevailed 
here,  which  shows  that  nothing  is  too  absurd 
to  be  tolerated  if  it  has  only  custom  to  support 
it.  I  allude  to  the  clerk  reading  aloud  in  the 
Church-yard,  sale-bills  and  every  discription  of 


90  GOOSNARGH  : 

notices  immediately  after  the  morning  service, 
and  the  common  inquiry  then  was,  and  has  not 
yet  died  away,  "Anything  fresh  at  Church?" 
alluding  to  the  bill  calling.  The  clerk's  fee  was 
2d.  for  each  notice,  which  during  the  year 
amounted  to  a  considerable  sum.  Many  a  two- 
pence has  been  paid  for  the  following  proclamation 
at  Goosnargh  Church  sun-dial,  "  Thomas  Thrifty 
is  going  to  kill  a  fat  bull  on  Tuesday  next  and 
cut  him  down  on  Thursday  and  he  will  be  much 
obliged  to  you  for  your  custom."  (Roars  of 
laughter).  But  in  the  year  1838  one  of  the  old 
parish  constables  took  it  into  his  head  to  put  a 
stop  to  the  nuisance,  and  absurd  as  the  thing  was 
there  were  not  wanting  those  of  the  old  stand-still 
class  to  pronounce  the  constable  over-officious, 
but  common  sense,  prudence  and  decency  coming 
to  his  aid,  he  was  soon  enabled  to  put  an  effectual 
curb  upon  Mr.  Amen's  barbarous  custom. 

BELL   RINGING. 

The  Church  bells  are  generally  rung  for  about 
half-an-hour  before  the  morning  and  afternoon 
service.  As  regards  their  salaries,  see  "Church 
fees. " 

THE    CHURCH   CHOIR. 

Before  the  year  1885  I  don't  find  that  the 
Church  choir  ever  received  any  direct  remuner- 
ation for  their  services,  but  they  formerly  had  a 
custom  (a  much  abused  good  custom)  of  going  from 
house  to  house  about  Christmas  singing  appro- 
priate hymns  and  collecting  the  gratuities  of  their 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  9! 

neighbours;  but  this  hymn  singing  having  so 
frequently  ended  in  drunken  revels,  many  of  the 
most  respectable  class  (the  class  the  most  likely 
to  serve  their  purpose),  shut  their  doors  upon 
them.  The  time  was  when  it  was  no  disgrace 
to  be  "as  drunk  as  a  lord,"  but  happily  that  day 
has  gone  by  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  will  not  return 
again. 

THE   TIME    OF   CHURCH   SERVICE   AND 
CHURCH   TRUANTS. 

The  Church  service  commences  at  half  past  ten 
o'clock  in  the  morning  and  at  three  in  the  afternoon, 
but  many  are  the  Goosnargh  Church  truants  on 
whose  conduct  a  journalist  of  the  Preston  Chron- 
icle in  1848  under  the  signature  of  "A  Bachelor" 
made  some  caustic  remarks,  and  though  his  pill 
was  bitter  to  some  and  vomited  by  others,  yet  as 
it  had  a  salutary  effect  generally,  I  will  with  Mr. 
"Bachelor's"  leave  take  the  liberty  to  repeat  the 
dose. 

HINT   TO   CHURCH    GOERS. 

"  It  is  a  part  of  my  religion  not  to  disturb  the  religion  of 
others. — A  YOUNG  LADY. 

To  THE  EDITOR  or  THE  PRESTON  "CHRONICLE." 
Sir, — I  am  a  Church  goer;  and  though  my 
residence  is  as  far  from  the  house  of  God  as 
most  people's,  yet  I  generally  contrive  to  be 
.  there  before  the  service  commences ;  and 
Mr.  Editor  with  your  kind  permission  I 
will  endeavour  to  prevail  upon  some  of  my 
neighbours  to  be  a  little  more  punctual 
in  their  attendance. 


92  GOOSNARGH : 

At  the  Church  where  I  have  the  pleasure 
to  worship,  about  one  half  of  the  congre- 
gation are  often  sadly  too  late  and  not 
unfrequently  three-fourths  come  in  after 
the  appointed  time;  and  I  think  it  is  too 
bad  that  those  few  who  do  come  in  time 
for  the  opening  should  thus  be  subjected 
to  the  perpetual  nuisance  of  the  clapping 
of  the  doors,  and  the  clattering  footsteps 
of  late  comers.  No  doubt  this  irregularity 
arises  from  various  causes.  One  set  of 
Church  truants,  whom  I  call  the  "vanity 
class,"  appear  to  studiously  make  a  point 
of  being  too  late,  to  afford  themselves  an 
opportunity  of  having  a  swagger  up  the 
Church  aisle  to  show  themselves  and  their 
robes  to  greater  numbers,  and  in  their 
shallow  estimation  to  a  better  advantage. 
Another  set  whom  I  call  the  "grovelling 
class,"  who  are  so  beset  with  this  world's 
cares  that  they  cannot  finish  their  week's 
worldly  business  in  six  days  and  therefore 
they  have  so  many  odd  jobs  to  attend  to 
and  so  many  "errands  to  run"  on  a  Sun- 
day morning,  that  they  cannot  possibly 
"without  a  turn  of  mind"  be  in  time  for 
the  service.  Another  set,  whom  I  call  the 
"lounging  class,"  saunter  about  the  Church 
yard  picking  up  the  week's  gossip,  to  take 
home  for  themselves  and  their  friends  to 
feast  upon  during  the  Sunday  afternoon ; 
those  thus  employed  generally  make  away 
with  five  or  ten  minutes  after  the  bell  drops 
before  they  find  their  way  into  the  Church. 
A  fourth  set  and  by  far  the  largest,  whom 


PAST    AND   PRESENT.  93 

I  call  the  "thoughtless  class,"  which  com- 
prises some  of  every  age,  sex  and  station, 
and  whose  irregularity  appears  to  arise 
from  nothing  more  or  less  than  a  loose 
careless  habit  and  a  want  of  a  due  estim- 
ation of  their  Sabbath  privileges,  for 
amongst  this  number  are  to  be  seen  many 
who  have  the  most  spare  time  upon  their 
hands  and  who  reside  hard  by  the  Church 
door,  and  yet  "  from  one  new  moon  to 
another"  they  are  alway  a  little  too  late  for 
the  opening.  The  above  I  conceive  to  be  the 
chief  causes  of  late  attendance,  and  yet  no 
doubt  a  want  of  reflection  has  a  hand  more 
or  less,  in  every  instance,  for  if  the  truants 
did  but  consider  how  great  was  the  Sabbath 
privileges,  and  how  sacred  and  important 
their  Sabbath  duties,  they  could  not  so 
causelessly  and  unblushingly  slight  the 
public  worship  of  their  God,  and  be  so 
eternally  annoying  to  their  more  regular 
neighbours. 

If  then  we  do  value  our  Sabbath  privi- 
leges, if  we  wish  to  show  a  spark  of  good 
breeding,  if  we  wish  a  blessing  upon  our 
attendance,  and  if  we  don't  wish  to  cast 
contempt  upon  God  and  his  ordinances, 
and  not  to  be  annoying  to  other  worship- 
pers, let  us  "  keep  our  foot  when  we  go 
into  the  house  of  God,"  and  to  be  sure 
to  be  in  time  for  the  opening. 

A     BACHELOR. 

Goosnargh,  December  26th,  1848. 

Previous  to  the  year  1 849  a  great  portion  of 

the  Church  floor  was  of  clay  and  littered  with 


94  GOOSNARGH  : 

straw,  but  a  subscription  being  opened  and 
headed  by  Dr.  Bull  and  Mr.  William  Shaw  (a 
descendant  of  the  founder  of  the  Church),  it  was 
liberally  responded  to,  and  in  the  year  1850  the 
Church  was  nearly  new  floored. 

THE    VICARAGE. 

The  vestry  book  has  the  following  honourable 
item  on  the  vicarage. 

March  21,  1799.  Be  it  known  to  future  min- 
isters of  Goosnargh,  to  the  vestry,  and  the 
inhabitants  in  general,  that  Joshua  Southward 
(minister  of  Goosnargh),  has  allotted  and  conveyed 
from  and  out  of  his  own  real  estate,  situate  and 
being  in  the  Township  of  Whittingham,  about 
one  rood  of  land,  be  the  same  more  or  less, 
containing  the  site  on  which  a  parsonage  house 
is  erected  and  other  offices,  together  with  a  barn, 
stable,  and  cowhouse,  the  remainder  being  appor- 
tioned and  laid  out  as  a  garden  and  orchard. 
That  the  instrument  which  conveyed  the  above 
specified  premises  has  been  enrolled  in  the  high 
court  of  chancery,  and  is  now  lodged  in  the 
registry  of  Chester,  being  supposed  the  most 
eligible  place  of  safety,  and  also  ready  at  any  time 
for  inspection.  Witness,  Joshua  Southward, 
minister. 

The  house  here  alluded  to  is  the  present 
vicarage,  but  was  enlarged  by  the  late  minister, 
Mr.  Shilleto,  the  cost  being  ^"300,  which  he 
borrowed  from  the  Church  Building  Society. 
The  house  has  again  been  improved  by  Mr. 
Gordon  the  present  vicar,  the  expenses  being 
^250,  which  were  paid  by  subscription. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  95 

GOOSNARGH    VESTRY    BOOK. 

Perhaps  the  most  interesting  document  which 
the  inhabitants  of  Goosnargh  possess  is  an  ancient 
vestry  book,  in  which  is  recorded  the  minutes  of 
the  Twenty-four  of  the  Chapelry  of  Goosnargh 
from  1625  to  the  present  time,  from  which  I 
extract  the  following.  The  first  entry  is  without 
date,  and  runs  thus. 

Here  ensueth  a  catalogue  of  such  books  as 
were  given  by  Mr.  Thomas  Waring,  late  of 
London,  deceased,  to  the  minister  of  this  Chapelry 
and  his  successors,  lodged  in  the  school's  closet. 

1.  Annotations  of  the  five  Books  of  Moses, 
the  Book  of  Psalms,    the   Song    of    Songs   or 
Canticles. 

2.  The  Lives  of  the  Popes,  from  the  time  of 
our  Saviour  till  the  reign  of  Sextus  the  fourth. 

3.  The  Mystry  and  Marrow  of  the  Bible. 

4.  Help  for  the  understanding  of  the  Holy 
Scripture. 

5.  A  Comentary  or  Exposition  of  the  four 
Evangelists,  and  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 

6.  The  Word  to  come. 

7.  Domestical  Duties — eight  treatises. 

8.  The  Amendment  of  Life,  in  four  books. 

9.  The  Legacy  of  the  Bishop  of  Hereford. 
From  the  orthography  of  the  above  it  would 

appear  to  be  out  of  order  in  the  entries  of  the 
book,  and  it  is  presumed  the  following  singularly 
worded  paragraph,  which  shows  with  what  care 
and  caution  assessments  upon  the  landed  property 
of  this  district  were  formerly  laid,  has  originally 
been  the  first  record  in  this  ancient  book. 


96  GOOSNARGH  : 

GOOSNARGHE. 

Whereas  the  inhabitante  of  ye  Townshippe  of 
Goosnarghe  doe  all  of  them  generallie  fynd  them- 
selves agreeved  with  taxators  and  layes,  which 
hitherto  synce  ye  enclosures  of  th'eir  Commons, 
have  not  been  made  by  any  certain  rule,  but 
arbitrary  at  the  taxors  discresions.  The  better 
sort  of  the  inhabitant  complayneing  that  they  are 

oftentimes  occationed  to  their  proper  expenses, 
loss  of  time,  and  neglect  of  their  own  occations, 
and  extraordinare  payment  in  regard  to  the  non- 
solvency  of  the  worser  sort.  They  conplayneing 
that  the  are  unequallie  taxed,  although  the  taxors 
used  the  most  indifference  to  their  understandings. 
And  whereas  also  the  taxors  have  been  sometimes 
constrayned  upon  precepte  directed  by  the  con- 
stables to  assess  greater  somes  thene  were  con- 
teyned  in  the  same  precepte. 

In  regard  many  of  the  inhabitante  negligent, 
backward,  and  obstinate  in  their  paying  and  to 
the  end  the  people  might  be  satisfyed  according 
to  the  tenor  therof,  by  the  paymente  of  the  more 
forward  sort  of  the  inhabitante  which  hath  been 
oftentymes  an  apparent  greivance  to  them  that 

deserved  it  not,  and  hath  othertymes  occationed 
the  constables  and  collectors  at  such  tymes  as 
they  could  gather  more  than  would  satisfy  the 
said  precepte  to  deteyne  the  surplusage  in  their 
hands  to  their  own  uses  without  account  thereof, 
making  to  ye  generalle  hurt  of  ye  inhabitante. 
For  redress  of  which  mischief  and  inconvenencie 
thereof  and  to  give  notice  to  all  the  proprietors 
of  land  within  the  Townshippe  of  Goosnarghe, 
that  they  meet  together  at  the  Church  of  Goos- 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  97 

narghe  to-morrow,  being  Munday  ye  eleventh  of 
this  instant  July,  about  ten  of  the  clock  in  the 
forenoon,  there  and  then  to  agree  upon  a  certain 
ley  for  the  whole  Townshippe  of  Goosnarghe  to 
guide,  lead,  square  and  govern  all  taxations, 
leys,  goudes  and  assessm1.?  hereafter  to  be  made 
throughout  the  Townshippe  of  Goosnarghe, 
(excepte  ye  ould  retyes)  to  be  hereafter  granted 
by  Act  of  Parliament,  which  is  to  be  paid  accord- 
inge  to  ye  anciente  costome. 

The  aforesaid  notice  was  published  in  Goosnargh 
Church,  on  Sunday,  the  tenth  of  July,  1625,  in 
the  full  assemblie  there. 

And  afterwards,  the  last  day  of  July,  in  the  said 
Church  of  Goosnargh,  there  was  published  as 
followeth,  viz. — 

Whereas  upon  Sunday  the  tenth  day  of  this 
instant  month  of  July,  publique  notice  was  given 
in  this  Church  of  Goosnarghe  for  a  generalle 
meeteinge  for  the  rateinge  and  assessinge  of  this 
townshipp  in  a  certaine  ley  or  taxation  accord- 
ing to  quantities  and  qualities  of  their  land ;  and 
accordinglee  a  generalle  meetinge  was  held,  and 
thereupon  a  certaine  taxation,  ley,  or  goude  of 
seven  nobles  was  made,  rated,  and  assessed 
throughout  the  said  townshipp  upon  all  the 
proprietors  or  occupiers  of  land  within  the  said 
townshipp,  distributurelie  proportunabley  and 
equally  according  to  the  quantity  and  quality  of 
every  man's  land,  or  as  near  as  could  be  imagined, 
these  therefore  are  to  signifie  and  give  notice  to 
all  p"sons  whom  it  doth  or  may  concerne.  That 
before  the  same  ley,  taxacon  or  goude  so  made 
as  aforesaid  is  to  be  engrossed  in  p  *  ment,  the 
same  is  written  in  a  pay  booke,  which  pay  booke 
G 


98  GOOSNARGH  : 

from  this  present  day  beinge  the  last  of  the 
aforesaid  month  of  July,  Anno  Domi  i625,untill 
Munday,  the  eight  day  of  August  next  followinge, 
shall  remaine  in  the  vestry,  in  the  north  syde  of 
the  chancell  of  this  Church,  to  the  end  ;  whoso- 
ever pleaseth  may  duringe  that  tyme  p  "  use  and 
examine  the  same,  and  if  any  p^son  shall  fynd 
himselfe  unequally  or  over  deeplie  charged,  let 
him  resort  to  this  Church  of  Goosnargh  upon 
Munday  the  said  eight  day  of  August,  about  ten 
of  the  clock  in  the  forenoone  of  the  same  day, 
when  and  where  his  complaint  shall  be  heard 
(and  if  aniejust  cause  appear)  allowed,  and  his 
taxacon  eased,  lessened  and  abated  by  these 
persons,  or  a  great  number  of  them,  hereafter 
named,  and  thereunto  elected  out  of  every  tith- 
inge  of  this  towhshipp,  viz.,  Mr.  Alexander 
Rigby  of  the  Church  tyth,  Mr.  George  Beesley 
of  the  Beesley  tyth,  Mr.  Mathie  Latus  of  Long- 
ley  tyth,  Thomas  Wilson  of  Aspenhurst  tyth, 
Mr.  Cuthbert  Hesketh  of  Threlfall  tyth,  and 
Thomas  Parkinson  of  Kidsnape  tyth. 

And  whereas  upon  the  foresaid  eight  day  of 
August  the  said  Alexander  Rigby,  George 
Beesley,  Mathie  Latus,  and  Thomas  Wilson  came 
to  the  foresaid  Church  of  Goosnargh,  and  then 
and  there  diligent  reviewed  and  reexamined 
the  foresaid  paper  booke,  and  heard  all  such 
complainte  as  were  then  and  there  offered  unto 
them,  and  rectified  the  said  pay  bookes  in  all 
places  wherein  the  same  was  then  conceived  to 
be  defective  or  excessive ;  and  hereupon  the  said 
paper  bookes  is  caused  to  be  engrossed  punctuallie 
and  verbatim  in  manner  and  form  following,  viz. — 

A  taxation  of  the  Townshipp  and  Inhabitante 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  99 

of  Goosnarghe  in  the  County  of  Lancaster,  when 
soe  much  money  is  to  be  therein  gathered  as 
amounteth  to  the  sum  of  fortie-six  shillings  and 
eightpence,  according  to  the  quantity  and  qualitie 
of  everie  man's  land  in  the  same  townshipp. 

GOOSNARGHE. 

Imprimis  Alexander  Rigby,  Esq.,  )  FourDence 

for  the  Ey  veshall  and  demesne  / 
The  same  Alexander  Rigby,  for  i 

Midleton  Topping  House  and  >  Twelvepence. 

the  great  share        .........  j 

Brdcroft  ............     Fivepence  halfpenny. 

Mr.  Thomas  Helme,  for  the  Kirk-  1  o 

house    and   his    land   in    the  >  , 

Church  tyth    ............  f  halfpenny. 


Mr.  Edge,  for  Bulsnape  and  Mill  I  °"®  shillinS 

J  and  twopence. 


Here  follows  the  rate  or  assessment  in  full 
which  makes  the  sum  total  of  "  two  pounds  six 
shillings  and  eightpence." 

The  elventh  day  of  July,  Anno  Rex  Caroli 
Sexto,  Anno  Domi  1630. 

Whereas  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  God  1625 
there  was  upon  publique  notice  and  consent  of 
the  inhabitante  of  the  Townshipp  of  Goosenargh  a 
book  of  rates  made  for  the  direccon  of  taxacons 
leys  and  goudes  within  the  said  townshipp,  with 
respect  to  the  quantities  and  qualities  of  the  land 
of  the  inhabitante  there. 

Now  forasmuch  as  it  is  informed  of  the  foure 
and  twentie  of  Goosenarghe,  that  in  and  by  the 
said  booke  of  rates  some  p^sons  and  their  land 
G  2 


IOO  GOOSNARGH : 

are  unequally  rated,  and  that  some  parcels  of 
land  are  omitted  in  the  said  book  of  rates..  There- 
fore for  the  rectifyeinge  of  all  inequality  in  the 
said  book  of  rates,  and  for  supply  of  defects 
therein  if  anie  such  there  be. 

These  are  to  give  publique  notice  and  warne- 
inge  to  all  the  inhabitants  and  ownr.!  of  lande 
within  the  said  townshipp.  That  they  upon 
Munday  the  nynteenth  day  of  this  instant 
moneth  of  July,  at  eight  of  the  clocke  in  the 
fournoone  of  the  same  day,  do  meete  in  this 
Church  then  and  there  to  review  and  examine 
the  said  booke  of  rates  and  to  rectify  the  same  if 
it  shall  be  found  unequall  or  defective.  By  us, 

ALEXANDER  RIGBY 
MATHEW  LATUS 
THOMAS  TOWNLEY 
RICHD.  SIMSON 
JOHN  THRELFALL 
JOHN  LANCASTER. 

This  note  was  published  in  the  said  Church  of 
Goosneargh  upon  the  eighteenth  day  of  July, 
Anno  Domi  1630,  and  likewise  upon  the  elventh 
day  of  the  said  month  of  July, 

By  me,  WILLM.  DANE,  then  Clarke. 

MEM. — That  the  nyneteenth  day  of  July,  Anno 
Domi  1630,  divers  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Township  of  Goosneargh,  in  the  County  of  Lan- 
caster, did  according  to  publique  notice  and 
warneinge  in  that  behalf  given  in  the  Church  of 
Goosneargh  upon  the  eleventh  and  eighteenth 
days  of  this  month  of  July  meete  in  the  same 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  IOI 

Church  of  Goosneargh,  and  then  and  there  did 
review  and  examine  the  booke  of  rates  within  the 
said  Townshipp  of  Goosenargh,  made  Anno  Domi 
1625,  and  therefore  the  said  inhabitants  did  think 
fit  and  agree  that  Mr.  Gabriell  Hesketh,  Robert 
Green,  Mr.  Thomas  Hesketh,  John  Lancr.,  and 
William  Wilson,  with  Anthony  Helme,  should 
be  eased  in  the  said  booke  of  rates  ;  and  that 
whereas  in  the  said  booke  of  rates  eightpence  is 
assessed  upon  the  said  Mr.  Gabriell  Hesketh,  the 
same  shall  be  abated  into  sevenpence  farthing  ; 
and  whereas  threepence  is  assessed  upon  the  said 
Robert  Green,  the  same  is  to  be  abated  to  two- 
pence halfpenny ;  and  whereas  twopence  half- 
penny is  assessed  upon  the  said  Thomas  Hesketh, 
the  same  to  be  abated  to  twopence  farthing ; 
and  whereas  twopence  halfpenny  is  assessed  upon 
John  Lancaster,  the  same  shall  be  abated  unto 
twopence  farthing  ;  and  whereas  twopence  half- 
penny is  assessed  upon  William  Wilson  with 
Anthony  Helme,  the  same  shall  be  abated  to  two- 
pence farthing ;  and  whereas  the  widow  of  Thos. 
Helme,  for  Simpson's  tenement,  and  Mr.  Robert 
Hesketh  for  the  Lykehurst  Moore,  and  the  widow 
of  Ralph  Parkinson  for  a  p — cell  of  Threlfall  land, 
were  omitted  in  the  said  booke  of  rates,  and  not 
assessed  herein.  It  is  now  by  the  said  inhabitants 
thought  fitt  and  soe  agree  that  they  shall  be 
assessed  in  this  manner,  that  is  to  say,  when 
seven  nobles  are  to  be  collected  in  or  throughout 
the  Townshipp  of  Goosneargh  afforesaid,  then 
one  halfpenny  shall  be  paid  for  the  said  Simson's 
tenement,  and  one  penny  farthing  for  the  said 
Sykhurst  Moore,  and  one  farthing  for  the  said 
parcel  of  Threlfall  lands. 


IO2  GOOSNARGH  : 

As  witness, 

ALEXANDER  RIGBY    JOHN  LANCASTER 

loth  July,  1630.      THOMAS  PARKINSON 
MATHY  LATUS  ROBERT  GREEN 

THOMAS  TOWNLEY     ROBERT  PARKINSON 
GEORGE  BEESLEY       THOMAS  BEESLEY 
GABRIELL  HESKETH   WILLIAM  BEESLEY 
THOMAS  WILSON        ROBERT  BLEASDALE 
RICHARD  SIMPSON      ROBERT  CROSS 
WILLIAM  PORTER       JOHN  WILSON 
RICHD.  TASKER 

WILLIAM  DARE,  then  Clarke. 

The   assessment  contains  234   entries  an;l    is 
divided  into  six  titheries,  namely : — 

S.      I). 

1.  Church  Tithery,  53  entries,  amount- 

ing to       8     2^ 

2.  Beesley        „        26         „  „  4     i^ 

3.  Longley      „         35         „  „  7     o" 

4.  Aspinhurst,,        23        „  „  40 

5.  Threlfall     „         90         „  „  19     2\ 

6.  Kidsnape    „  7         „  „  32 


£2     5     8 

The  smallest  charge  in  the  above  book  of  rates 
is  is.  4d.  and  the  greatest  is.  6d. 

The  assessment  bears  date  igth  day  of  July, 
1630,  and  is  signed: — 

ALEXANDER  RIGBY  JOHN  LANCASTER 

MATHEW  LATUS  THOMAS  PARKINSON 

THOMAS  TOWNLEY  JOHN  THRELFALL 

ROBERT  WILSON  THOMAS  WILSON 

RICHARD  SIMPSON  ANTHONY  KIRKHAM 


PAST    AND    PRESENT.  I 03 

A  catalogue  of  the  persons  which  this  eight 
day  of  April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  God  one 
thousand  six  hundred  thirtie  and  foure,  and  in 
the  tenth  year  of  the  reign  of  King  Charles  over 
England,  France  and  Ireland,  are  of  the  four  and 
twenty  sworn  men  of  the  Parish  of  Goosnargh, 
in  the  County  of  Lancaster,  viz.  : — 

1.  Thomas  Whittingham,  of  Whittingham,  Esq. 

2.  Thomas  Helme,  of  the  Kirkhouse  in  Goos- 

nargh, Gent. 

3.  Mathew  Latus,  of  Goosnargh,  Gent. 

4.  George  Wareing,  of  Whittingham,  Gent. 

5.  William  Wareing,  of  Whittingham,  Gent. 

6.  Thomas  Beesley,  of  Whittingham,  Gent. 

7.  Thomas  Wilson,  of  Goosnargh,  Gent. 

8.  William  Wareing,  of  Whittingham,  Yeom. 

9.  Christopher  Salisburie,  of  Whittingham,  Yeo. 

10.  Thomas  Cross,  of  Goosnargh,  Yeom. 

11.  George  Robson,  of  Goosnargh,  Yeom. 

12.  John  Threlfall,  of  Goosnargh,  Yeom. 

13.  John  Lancaster,  of  Goosnargh,  Yeom. 

14.  James  Taylor,  of  Goosnargh,  Yeom. 

15.  Thomas  Beesley,  of  Goosnargh,  Yeom. 

1 6.  Robert  Cowell,  of  Whittingham,  Yeom. 

17.  Thomas  Parkinson,  of  Goosnargh,  Yeom. 

1 8.  Richard  Fishwick,  of  Goosnargh,  Yeom. 

19.  John  Helme,  of  Whittingham,  Yeom. 

20.  Robert of  Goosnargh,  Husb. 

21.  William  Turner,  of  Whittingham,  Husb. 

22.  John  Boyes.  of  Whittingham,  Husb. 

23.  James  Cross,  of  Goosnargh,  Husb. 

24.  Richard  Sturzaker,  of  Whittingham,  Husb. 

April  the  i6th,  1645. 

The  Overseers  of  the  Poor  have  accounted  for 
three  layes  within  the  Townshippe  of  Goosneargh, 


104  GOOSNARGH  : 

being  the  sum  of  ^"7,  and  hath  disbursed  the 
same  unto  poor  people,  within  the  said  town- 
shippe. 

1656.  MEM.  Proportion  of  Goosnargh  and 
Whittingham — 

If  the  sume  bee  twenty  shillings,  then 

Goosnargh  payes  fowerteen  shillings  and  two- 
pence, 

Whittingham  five  shillings  and  tenpence. 
December  the  I3th,  1668. 

Collected  in  the  Chapell  of  Goosenargh  the 
sume  of  seven  shillings  and  twopence,  for  poore 
sufferers  by  the  fyre  within  the  Citye  of  London. 
By  us,  THOMAS  BEESLEY.  )  ~,  u 

JAMES  MERCER,    '{Churchwardens. 

1674.  It  is  ordered  that  all  deeds  and  writings 
that  doe  relate  or  concern  the  Church  and  schools, 
together  with  the  Church  book  shall  be  kept  in 
the  chest  with  three  locks  upon  it  standing  in  the 
vestry,  and  that  the  keys  shall  bee  henceforward 
kept,  one  by  the  preaching  schoolmaster  for  the 
time  being.  And  one  by  one  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Goosnargh,  and  one  by  one  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Whittingham. 

1677.  It  was  ordered  that  the  ringers  of  the 
Parochial  Chapel  of  Goosnargh  shall  upon 
every  Lord's  Day  ring  one  bell  at  seven  of  the 
clock  in  the  aforenoon,  two  bells  at  eight  of  the 
clock  and  three  bells  at  nine  of  the  clock  ;  and 
also  in  the  afternoon,  one  bell  at  twelve  of  the 
clock,  two  bells  at  one  of  the  clock  and  three  bells 
at  two  of  the  clock,  unless  the  minister  of  the 
said  Chapel  give  other  directions. 

The  form  of  the  acquittance  which  the  school- 
master of  the  free  school  of  Goosnargh  is  to  give 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  IO5 

to  the  Company  of  Drapers,  London,  for  the 
receipt  of  his  stipend  is  as  follows. 

Received  the  day  of  Anno  Domi 

by  me,  A.  B.  of  and  from  The  Right 
Worshipful  Company  of  Drapers,  London,  the 
sum  of  twelve  pounds  and  ten  shillings  of  lawful 
money  of  England,  due  for  my  half-year's  salary 
or  fee  ending  the  day  of  last  past,  as 

schoolmaster  of  the  free  school  of  Goosnargh,  in 
the  County  of  Lancaster,  of  the  gift  and  found- 
ation of  Mr.  Henry  Colebron,  late  of  London, 
deceased. 

I  say  received  bv  me, 

A.  B. 

The  form  of  acquittance  which  two  of  the 
Chapelwardens  are  to  give  to  the  said  Company 
of  Drapers  for  the  money  due  to  the  poor  is  as 
follows  : — 

Received  the  day  of  Anno  Domi 

by  us  C.  D.  and  E.  F.,  Chapel-warders  of 
the  Chapelry  of  Goosnargh-cum-Newsham  and 
Whittingham,  in  the  County  of  Lancaster,  of 
The  Right  Worshipful  Comp>'  of  Drapers, 
London,  the  sum  of  fifty  shillings  of  lawful  money 
of  England,  due  to  the  poor  of  the  said  Township 
of  Goosnargh-cum-Newsham  and  Whittingham, 
for  half-a-year  ended  on  the  day  of 

last  past,  of  the  gift  of  Mr.  Henry  Colebron,  late 
of  London,  deceased. 

We  say  recd    the  sum  of  £2   los.  By  us. 

C.  D. 
E.  F. 

Form  of  an  acquittance  which  is  to  be  received 
upon  the  payment  of  eightpence  per  year  unto 
the  feoffees  of  Christ  College  for  the  school  house. 


IO6  GOOSNARGH  : 

Received  by  me  A.  B.  for  the  use  of  C.  D.  as 
feoffee  of  Christ  College  from  the  Chapel- wardens 
of  Goosnargh,  the  sum  of  eightpence,  being  an 
ancient  rent  due  for  the  school  house  of  Goosnargh 
aforesaid. 

I  say  received  by  me. 

A.  B. 

1 68 1.  April.  Whereas  Thomas  Beesley  hath 
in  his  hands  twenty  pounds,  parte  of  the  gift  or 
legacy  of  Thomas  Threlfall,  for  thebenefitt  of  y1? 
poor  housekeepers  in  Goosnargh  who  go  not 
a-begging,  and  for  which  he  is  willing  to  give 
better  security  out  of  his  tenem1.  which  he  holds 
under  Mr.  Townley.  It  is  this  day  ordered  that 
he  shall  pay  on  or  before  ye  24th  day  of  June 
next,  give  the  said  security  to  Mr.  Thomas 
Whittingham,  Mr.  Thomas  Rigby,  Mr.  Bamber 
and  Robert  Barton. 

THE  CURFEW. 

1 68 1.  Ordered  that  Thomas  Clarkson  shall 
bee  discharged  from  being  a  ringer  for  the  year 
ensuinge  &  that  Henry  Elison  shall  be  a  ringer 
in  his  place,  and  that  he  shall  tent  the  Clocke  and 
ring  eight  of  ye.  Clocke  for  the  year  ensuinge,  and 
to  have  ten  shillings  for  his  painse. 

THE    FORM    OF   THE    VESTRY-MAN'S    OATH. 

1 68 1.  Ordered  that  every  vestryman  shall 
take  the  following  oath  on  his  admittance  to 
office  : — 

You  shall  well  and  truly  keep  all  ancient, 
lawful  and  laudable  customs  as  heretofore  in  this 
place  have  been  observed  and  kept,  so  far  as  they 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  IO7 

shall  agree  with  the  laws  of  this  realm,  and  the 
good  and  benefit  of  this  Chapel  and  Chapelry, 
according  to  your  power  and  best  understanding, 
and  your  own  counsel  and  your  fellows  you  shall 
keep.  So  help  you  God. 

1682.  Ordered  that  the  Key  of  the  Boxe  at 
Kirkham  be  kept  by  the  ministers  of  Goosnargh 
successively. 

1682.  It  is  ordered  that  ye.  Constables  of 
Goosnargh,  pay  to  Mr.  Midgehall  what  money  he 
is  out  of  purse  for  making  a  new  pair  [of  Stocks 
in  Inglewhite  according  to  an  order  of  sessions. 

1682.  It  is  ordered  that  William  Wareing 
looke  to  the  Clock,  to  sweepe  the  Church  and  keep 
it  cleane,  to  Ring  the  bell  at  8  of  ye.  Clocke,  to 
wash  ye.  surplices,  to  take  care  of  the  hackes  and 
spades  and  all  the  utensills  of  ye.  Church,  and  for 
his  doeing  so,  he  shall  have  the  benefitte  of 
buriales  in  the  Church. 

1682.  Ordered  that  the  churchwardens  for  ye 
time  to  come  shall  have  their  accounts  entered 
in  this  booke,  and  the  minister  that  now  is  and 
for  the  time  to  come  shall  be  desired  to  enter 
their  accounts,  and  for  his  so  doeing  he  shall  have 
yearly  2s.  6d. 

1682.  It  is  ordered  that  the  old  churchwardens 
shall  pay  to  the  Mnr  8d.  wch.  hee  laid  down  to 
two  breefes,  and  if  there  remain  not  so  much  in 
their  hands  at  the  time  of  their  dismission  from 
the  court,  then  ye  newe  ones  shall  pay  him  ye  sd. 
sum  of  8d. 

March  ye  2gth,  1684.  At  a  meeting  of  ye 
Twenty-foure — present,  Thomas  Whittingham, 
esquire,  Mr.  John  Whittingham,  Mr.  Robert 
Bamber,  Mr.  John  Parker,  Mr.  James  Johnson, 


io8  GOOSNARGH: 

John  Cardwell,  Henry  Wareing,  Thomas  Daniel, 
Mr.  Richard  Crumbleholme,  James  Trelfall, 
William  Woen,  Mr.  Henry  Parker,  Robert 
Barton,  Barton  Parkinson,  James  Taylor,  Thomas 
Beesley  and  John  Marsden.  That  whereas  their 
is  lately  erected  a  school-house  near  the  south 
style  of  the  Parochial  Chapel  of  Goosriargh. 

It  is  ordered  that  from  henceforth  the  said 
school-house  be  repaired  by  ye.  chappel-wardens 
of  Goosnargh  and  Whittingham  out  of  ye.  Church 
lay  and  kept  in  good,  decent  and  comely  repair 
from  yeare  to  yeare.  And  for  their  so  doing  this 
shall  be  their  warrant.  And  therefore  we  desire 
the  chapehvarders  that  shall  be  from  yeare  to 
yeare  to  take  especial  notice  of  this  our  order 
and  doe  as  herein  is  required  and  desired.* 

April  1 8th,  1693.  Ordered  that  the  church- 
wardens upon  the  request  of  our  minister  shall 
pay  the  clarke  for  the  year  next  ensuing  the  sum 
of  one  pound  six  shillings  and  eightpence,  to  be 
paid  quarterly. 

April  the  loth,  1694.     Faculty  of  the  Church. 

MEMORANDUM.     That  the  key  which  belongs  to 
the  box  at  Kirkham,  and  kept  in  the  hands  of  Mr. 
Butterworth,  was  delivered  this  loth  day  of  Apr. 
'94  to  Mr.  Henry  Parker,  the  24  present.     Henry 
Parker. 

March  ye.  26th,  1695.  Ordered  that  the  church- 
wardens shall  pay  the  ensuing  year  to  the  clarke 
305. — seven  shillings  and  sixpence  per  quarter. 
John  Grimbaldeston,  continued.  Ordered  that  the 
saxstones  shall  have  two  shillings  and  sixpence 

*  For  a  period  of  150  years  these  strong  injunctions  were  held  sacred, 
and  the  school-house  kept  in  repair  as  directed,  but  about  1836  that  burden 
was  thrown  upon  the  schoolmasters.  !! 


PAST    AND    PRESENT.  1 09 

per  quarter  for  attending  the  clock,  and  advantage 
of  all  the  buryings,  for  looking  to  the  utensills  of 
the  same  without  account  rendering  for  the 
ensuing  year 

MEM.  The  tenth  day  of  April,  1696.  There 
was  delivered  unto  our  present  minister,  William 
Bushell,  one  table  clothe,  2  napkins,  2  flaggons, 
2  bowles,  and  one  pewder  dish,  by  William 
Newsham,  one  of  the  churchwardens  that  year. 

Ordered  that  the  churchwardens  pay  unto  the 
clerk  for  the  ensuing  year  403.  (viz.),  los.  per 
quarter,  and  to  be  continued  yearly  till  otherwise 
ordered. 

Ordered.  That  William  Threlfall  tend  the 
clock,  sweep  the  Church,  wash  the  surplises,  and 
do  all  other  necessaries  about  the  Church,  and 
that  he  shall  have  for  his  pains  205.  per  annum. 

Ordered.  That  Edward  Gabbott,  Robert  Har- 
rison, and  the  said  William  Threlfall  be  ringers, 
so  long  as  they  duly  attend  the  Church. 

Ordered.  That  the  deed  belonging  to  Threlfall's 
gift  for  the  free  school  be  transferred  according 
to  a  certain  clause  comprised  and  contained 
therein ;  and  that  Henry  Parker  and  Barton 
Parkinson  take  care  for  the  due  performing  of 
the  same ;  the  churchwardens  for  the  year  present 
allowing  them  all  necessary  charges  they  shall  be 
at  for  doing  the  same. 

April  ye.  6th,  1697.  Ordered.  That  the  bond 
given  to  William  Walle,  Hugh  Cooper,  and 
Robert  Barton  by  Edmund  Rigby,  Esq.,  be  lodged 
in  the  Church  chest,  and  that  the  present  school- 
master, John  Grimbaldeston,  rec.  the  interest 
thereof  as  it  becomes  due. 


JIO  GOOSNARGH  : 

April  ye.  22nd,  1701.  ITEM.  Whereas  several 
extravagant  expenses  have  been  found  not  only 
in  accounts  of  the  churchwardens  for  the  year 
last  past,  but  also  in  some  former  years,  in  enter- 
taining of  strange  minis5  when  they  preached 
here.  It  is  ordered  that  no  churchwarden  for 
the  future  shall  expend  above  2s.  upon  the 
account  above  said,  wht-  more  not  to  be  allowed. 

April  ye.  7th,  1702.      It  was  ordered. 

That  no  particular  sum  in  any  officers' 
accounts  hereafter  that  amounts  to  the  sum  of  £$ 
or  more  shall  be  allowed,  but  upon  the  examin- 
ation of  the  major  part  of  the  24,  or  such  of  them 
as  are  appointed  account-takers,  without  a  voucher 
or  an  acquittance  for  such  individual  sums. 

That  all  other  lesser  paymts-  the  accountant  to 
mention  the  day  of  the  month  when  paid,  for 
what  use  paid.  If  for  day  works  the  number  of 
days,  the  parties  named  that  is  employed.  As  to 
materials,  what  is  bought  (viz.)  as  to  Slate,  what 
Roods  or  lesser  quantities.  As  to  glass,  what 
foots,  or  lesser  quantities.  As  to  wood,  what 
yards  of  seeling, '  or  otherways,  or  in  any  other 
materiale,  touching  the  use  of  the  Church,  and 
the  persons  from  whom  any  such  materiale  is  had 
or  bought. 

March  ye.  3Oth,  1703.  That  the  Churchwar- 
dens for  the  year  last  past,  shall  not  be  charged 
with  the  sume  of  IDS.  4|d.  Assessed  upon  Thomas 
Rigby  Esqr-  towards  the  repair  of  the  Church 
until!  a  certain  dispute  arising  upon  his  repairing 
the  roof  over  his  own  Quire  be  stated  betwixt  the 
sd.  Tho:  Rigby  and  this  Chapellry. 

That  for  regulating  the  expenses  of  all  public 
meetings  for  this  chapelry  (which  oftentimes 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  Ill 

heretofore  have  proved  very  extravagant)  It  is 
ordered,  that  no  Officer  discharging  such  expenses 
shall  have  more  allowed  him  than  4d.  for  every 
individual  person  necessarly  appearing  at  every 
such  meeting  wthin  the  Chappelry  and  6d.  if  out 
of  the  Chappelry. 

April  the  roth,  1705.  Ordered.  That  Robert 
Harrison  be  sexton  so  long  as  he  demeans  himself 
dutifull  and  carefull  in  his  place  &  service.  Which 
service  shall  be  to  Ring  Eight  of  the  Clock,  from 
the  2gth  of  September,  untill  the  25th  of  March, 
yearly,  except  he  be  otherwise  ordered.  To  oyle 
the  Bells,  at  his  own  charge,  to  sweep  the  church, 
and  whip  the  dogs  out  of  it  every  Lord's  day. 
To  wash  the  surplus  and  Table  Linen,  Flagons 
&  Bowels.  To  mow  the  weeds  in  the  Church 
yard,  and  fence  the  Church  yard,  and  that  he 
shall  have  for  his  wages  all.  the  advantage  of  the 
business  of  the  Church  without  account  making. 

That  the  Clerk  attend  to  the  Clock,  and  find 
it  with  oyle,  at  his  own  charge,  and  to  receive 
for  so  doing  from  the  Churchwardens  fifteen 
shillings  per  annum. 

Copy  of  an  Abstract  of  a  Deed  in  Mr.  Parker's 
Box  at  Kirkham,  taken  the  22nd  of  February 
1713,  by  William  Wall  and  Henry  Parker. 

A  Copy  of  a  Deed  in  the  Chancery  of  England 
betwixt  the  Twenty-four  of  the  Chapelry  of 
Goosnargh,  The  Thirty  men  of  Kirkham  and 
the  Company  of  Drapers  London,  about  the  dis- 
tribution of  Henry  Coleborn's  Charity  wherein 
^"30  (part  of  ^"105)  is  appointed  to  the  Town- 
ships of  Goosnargh  cum  Newsham  and  Whit- 
tingham,  ^"25  part  of  the  said  ^"30  is  to  be  for 
the  maintenance  of  a  Schoolmaster  at  Goosnargh, 


ii2  GOOSNARGH: 

and  £$  per  annum,  remainder  of  the  said  ^"30 
to  the  poor  of  the  Townships  of  Goosnargh  cum 
Newsham  and  Whittingham,  the  Company  of 
Drapers  to  have  the  nomination  and  approbation 
of  the  School  Master,  with  the  Thirty  men  of 
Kirkham  and  the  24  of  Goosnargh. 

Dated  1713. 

1673.  Lease  &  Release  bearing  date  as  above, 
from  the  Company  of  Drapers  of  the  City  of 
London,  to  Henry  Ashurst  and  Thomas  Waring 
Citizens  and  Merchant  Taylors  London  as  Trus- 
tees in  pursuance  of  the  said  decree  for  the  use 
and  behoofe  of  the  Parish  of  Kirkham,  and  the 
Townships  of  Goosnargh  and  Newsham  and 
Whittingham. 

1673.  A  Release  from  Henry  Ashurst  and 
Thomas  Waring  to  the  Company  of  Drapers  of 
the  City  of  London,  in  pursuance  of  the  said 
decree,  of  all  that  Messuage  &  TenemV  in  the 
Parish  of  All  Hallows  Honey  Lane,  London. 
The  Bull  Head  Tavern,  in  the  occupation,  of 
Francis  Knight,  Esq.  A  Messuage  and  Tenem1.- 
in  the  possession  John  Dingley,  All  those  Three 
Messuages  &  Stables  in  or  near  Dowgate,  in  the 

Parish  of  St.  Michael,  Pater  Noster  Row  als. 
Whittingdon  College  London,  late  in  the  occu- 
pation of  William  Stanton.  Five  messuages  in 
St.  Swithins  Lane.  Two  messuages  in  St.Swithins 
and  Abchurch,  in  the  Possession  of  Dr.  Bury 
Whitcroft.  One  messuage  in  St.  Swithins,  in 
the  possession  of  John  Gorty,  Two  Messuages 
in  Sherburn  Lane.  Three  Messuages  in  Bodolph 
Lane.  Two  Messuages  in  Thames  St.  Two 
Messuages  in  Grace  Church  Street,  with  a  cove- 
nant from  the  said  Company  of  Drapers  t;o  pay 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  113 

the   ^"105,   in   such    proportions   as   the    Deed 
directs  at  Michalmas  and  Lady  day. 

This  is  an  Abstract  of  the  Deeds 
Taken  as  above 

B  f  WM.  WALL. 

\  HENRY  PARKER. 

April  23rd  1717.  Ordered.  That  all  persons, 
hereafter  to  be  elected,  into  the  number  of  the 
24  shall  be  an  inhabitant,  resident  within  the 
Chapelry,  and  in  case  any  such  person  after  his 
election  shall  remove  out  of  the  Chapelry,  and 
not  appear  at  the  general  meeting  at  Easter  once 
in  three  years  at  the  least,  that  such  person  so 
removing  and  not  appearing  as  af?  shall  be 
accounted  as  dead,  and  another  chosen  in  his 
stead. 

April  1 5th,  1718.     It  was  Ordered.    That  that 
The  Churchwardens  pay  unto  the  Ringers 
nobles  a  piece  for  their  service  in  ringing  upon 
Sundays  and  all  other  days  of  rejoicing  in  the  year 
whatever. 

March  ye.  3Oth,  1725.  That  when  any  con- 
tribution is  made  by  the  Inhabitants  of  Whit- 
tingham,  towards  the  repairs  of  Whitechapel, 
such  contribution  is  of  favour  only,  and  not  of 
right  or  obligation. 

April  1 2th,  1726.  Order  Recinded.  And 
whereas  an  order  made,  the  23rd  day  of  April 
Anno  Dom.  1717,  and  a  clause  therein  inserted 
( viz.)  that  no  person  or  persons  should  be  elected 
one  of  the  24  of  this  Chapelry,  but  those  that 
were  resident  therein,  which  clause  being  sup- 
posed and  found  prejudical  to  this  Chapel,  we  do 
hereby  order  that  the  said  clause  be  made  nul 
and  void. 


114  GOOSNARGH  : 

April  8th,  1729.  Ordered.  That  no  Church- 
warden nor  Church-wardens,  either  for  Goosnargh 
or  Whittingham,  defraying  the  expenses  upon 
Easter  Tuesday,  shall  for  the  future  be  allowed 
any  more  than  I2d.  a  piece  for  themselves,  and 
every  individual  man  of  the  24  then  appearing, 
minister,  Curates  and  Clark,  what  more  not  to 
be  allowed. 

April  1 6,  1734.  That  all  persons  of  the  24, 
now  being,  and  every  person  or  persons  hereafter 
to  be  elected,  into  the  society  of  the  24  sworn 
men  of  this  Chapelry,  shall  be  obliged  to  appear 
at  the  general  meeting  at  Easter,  once  in  three 
years  at  the  least,  otherwise  (that  is  in  case  of 
failure),  they  shall  be  esteemed  as  dead,  and  new 
ones  elected  in  their  room. 

1738.  A  dispute  having  arisen  between  the 
minister  of  Goosnargh  and  the  Vestry  respecting 
the  right  of  appointment  of  Sexton,  upon  which 
the  following  is  recorded  in  the  handwriting  of 
the  minister. 

I  hereby  acknowledge  the  right  of  nomination 
of  a  Sexton  for  the  Parochial  Chapel  of  Goosnargh, 
to  belong  to  the  select  vestry  of  twenty  four, 
which  right  I  will  not  hereafter  controvert,  and 
assure  them  what  opposition  I've  hitherto  made 
to  it,  was  owing  to  misinformation,  and  not 
occasioned  by  any  design  formed  by  me  wrong- 
fully to  usurp  or  invade  it.  But  I  hope  the 
Gentlemen  that  constitute  that  vestry  will  not 
elect  a  man  into  that  office,  who  makes  it  his 
study  to  affront  me  daily.  But  permit  George 
Turner  to  exercise  it,  at  least  one  year  longer, 
In  which  time  both  they  and  I  may  be  better 


PAST    AND   PRESENT.  115 

satisfied  of  Edmd.  Makinson's  behaviour  both  in 

general,  and  to  me  in  particular.* 

WM.   WHITEHEAD,   minister. 
After  this  acknowledgement  of  the  Curate  of 

Goosnargh,  the  select  Vestry  proceeded  to  the 

nomination  of  a  Sexton  and  elected  John  Salisbury 

of    Goosnargh    aforesaid   to   be   Sexton   of  the 

Parochial  Chapel  of  Goosnargh,  for  the  space  of 

six  months  next  ensuing 

THOMAS  WHITEHEAD 
JOHN  PARKINSON** 
CROSER  PARKINON 
CHRIS":  PARKINSON 
JOHN  BAINES 
ROBERT  PORTER 
JAMES  TAYLOR 
ROB*  PARKINSON 
JOHN  PORTER 
THO?  CROOKE 
HENRY  PARKER 
On   the  appointment  of  Wm  Turner  to  the 

Mastership  of  Goosnargh   School  in    1748,  the 

Vestry  thus  record — 

We  do  order  and  allow  him  to  receive  for  his 

wages,   the  full  profits  of  the  land  and  growing 

Interest   of  the   money   belonging   to  the   said 

School.H 

On  the  appointment  of  Henry  Grimbaldeston 

to  the  Mastership  of  Threlfalls  School,  the  vestry 

again  record : — 

January  1st,   1794.     We  do  order  and  allow 

him  to  receive  for  his  wages  the  full  profits  of  the 

*I  fancy  this  note  breathes  the  spirit  of  a  Christian. 
**In  the  year  1740  one-third  of  the  Twenty-four  wero  Parkinsons 
UWnere  is  the  money  ?    Has  it  mumbled  away  ? 
H  2 


n6  GOOSNARGH: 

Lands  belonging  to  the  Master  of  the  said  School. 
And  that  for  his  further  diligence  and  support, 
he  shall  have  annually  the  privilege  of  teaching 
writing  and  accounts  for  five  weeks,  beginning 
generally  about  the  I2lh  May,  and  that  he  shall 
charge  weekly  for  writing  64  and  for  accounts 
I/-  per  week.  And  be  it  understood  that  for  his 
Indulgence  the  said  Master  shall  in  the  circle  of 
the  year,  makeup  as  much  as  maybe  the  deficiency 
in  teaching  occasionally  in  the  Holydays 

March  2ist,  1799.  Be  it  known  to  future  min- 
isters, to  the  Vestry,  and  to  the  Inhabitants  in 
general,  that  Joshua  Southward  has  already 
allotted  and  conveyed,  from  or  out  of  his  own 
real  estate,  situated  and  being  in  the  Townhip  of 
Whittingham,  about  I  Rood  of  Land,  be  the  same 
more  or  less,  containing  the  site  on  which  a 
Parsonage  House  is  erected,  with  the  offices, 
together  with  a  Barn,  Stable  and  Cow  House,  the 
remainder  being  apportioned  and  laid  out  into  a 
Garden  and  Orchard. 

That  the  Instrument  that  conveyed  the  above 
specified  premises,  has  been  enrolled,  in  the  High 
Court  of  Chancery,  and  is  now  lodged  in  the 
Registry  of  Chester,  being  supposed  the  most 
eligible  place  of  safety,  and  also  ready  at  any  time 
for  Inspection. 

Witness,     JOSHUA  SOUTHWARD. 

Minister  of  Goosnargh. 

April  1 6th,  1811.  That  Thomas  Cowell  be 
allowed  Two  Guineas  per  year,  for  doing  the  duty 
of  Sexton. 

April  2Oth,  1813.  It  is  agreed  that  David 
Waring  is  to  have  £2  12s.  6d.  for  his  Salary  for 
officiating  as  Clerk  at  the  Whitechapel. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  117 

March  24th,  1818.  It  was  determined  by  the 
Minister  and  the  24  namely : — Thomas  Hornby, 
W1?1  Lancaster,  James  Parkinson,  William 
Sumner,  Philip  Park,  Chrisr.  Parkinson,  Jr- 
Robert  Clifton,  Christopher  Oliverson,  Jr-  and 
Senr'>  W™  Gornall,  W>  Cross,  Mathew  Miller, 
James  Walne,  &  Thomas  Abraham : — 

That  from  this  time,  no  Corpse  shall  be  buried 
within  the  Church,  unless  the  grave  is  made  six 
feet  deep,  and  also  if  a  Corpse  be  interred  under 
any  seat  a  Joiner  shall  be  employed,  to  remove 
carefully  the  woodwork,  and  to  restore  it  to  its 
proper  situation ;  and  if  any  Corpse  be  buried 
underneath  any  part  which  is  flagged,  oak  sleepers 
shall  be  put  over  the  part  where  the  grave  is 
made,  and  the  flags  replaced  upon  those  sleepers 
in  an  even  manner  by  a  regular  workman. 

April  24th,  1821.  It  was  further  ordered 
(in  addition  to  the  order  made  the  24th  March 
1818)  that  every  funeral  interred  in  the  Church 
for  the  future  shall  pay  Two  pounds,  in  addition 
to  the  former  dues,  to  the  Churchwardens  towards 
the  repair  of  the  Church. 

On  the  appointment  of  the  Rev.  R.  Studholme 
to  the  Mastership  of  Threlfall's  (St.  Mary's) 
School,  on  the  2ist  December  1830,  the  Vestry 
record — 

That  the  Rev.  Robert  Studholme  be  appointed 
the  Schoolmaster  of  the  said  School,  which  is 
endowed  by  the  profits  of  a  certain  estate,  situate 
in  Whittingham  vested  in  the  Twenty  four  of 
the  said  Townships  of  Goosnargh  and  Whitting- 
ham. To  teach  Reading,  Writing,  Arithmetic 
and  Grammar,  and  to  have  for  his  wages  the  net 
profits  which  may  arise  from  the  aforesaid  estate 


n8  GOOSNARGH: 

in  Whittingham,  with  which  the  said  School  is 
endowed,  and  over  and  besides  that,  in  lieu  of 
Scrivener  (as  it  has  been  termed)  he  receive 
and  be  paid,  from  the  parents  and  Guardians  of 
those  Children  who  may  be  taught  writing  2/6, 
each  child  per  year,  and  from  the  parents  and 
Guardians  of  those  who  may  be  taught  Writing 
and  Arithmetic  5/-  for  each  per  year. 

April  1832,  Register  Books  extant  in  the 
Church  of  Goosnargh  in  the  County  of  Lancaster 
and  Diocese  of  Chester. 

Date  of  ist  1 639- 1 659  inclusive.  2nd  1660-1682 
inclusive.  3rd  1683,  and  ending  3Oth  March,  1729, 
inclusive.  4th  beginning  April  3Oth  1730,  and 
continue  till  April  1739,  where  the  marriages  are 
separated  and  Baptisms  and  Burials  are  continued 
in  the  same  Book,  down  to  the  3ist  December 
1808.  At  the  end  of  the  same  Book  are  the  marri- 
ages, beginning  1737,  ending  1753.  The  fifth  Book 
records  Baptisms  and  Burials  from  January  1809 
to  June  1813.  The  6th  a  marriage  Register  from 
1784  to  1813.  Then  commence,  the  three  new 
Register  Books  ruled  according  to  act  of  Parliment. 
These  Registers  are  kept  at  the  Parsonage  House. 

Mem.  Richard  Cookson  was  appointed  Master 
of  the  above  named  Threlfall  School,  September 
I2th  1832. 

Easter  Tuesday,  April  gth  1833.  Vote  of  thanks. 

That  the  thanks  of  the  Vestry  be  recorded  in 
the  Vestry  Book,  and  was  unanimously  voted 
to  the  Messieurs  Oliverson  of  London  for  their 
Liberal  offer  to  build  for  the  benefit  of  the  Parish 
a  Dwelling  House  &  Girls  School  Room. 

Easter  Tuesday  April  5th,  1836. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  1 19 

On  a  motion  made  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Benn, 
that  the  thanks  of  the  Vestry  be  given  to  Messrs. 
Oliverson  for  their  Charitable  and  praiseworthy 
endowment  of  the  Schoolhouse  at  Whitechapel 
for  the  residence  of  the  Master  of  Whitechapel 
School :  it  was  cordially  sanctioned  and  ordered 
that  a  memorandum  to  that  effect  be  recorded 
in  the  Vestry  Book. 

On  the  30th  day  of  April,  1854.  The  Rev. 
John  Woodhouse  was  licenced  by  the  Bishop  of 
Manchester  as  Curate  of  Goosnargh  Church,  and 
his  "living"  was  ^"105  a  year,  ^"75  of  which 
was  contributed  by  the  Incumbent,  £ 25  by  the 
Trustees  of  Dr.  Bushell's  Hospital  and  the 
remaining  £-.,  from  a  fund  subscribed  by  the 
neighbouring  Gentlemen.  For  the ^"25  subscribed 
by  the  said  Trustees,  the  Curate  was  required 
to  deliver  a  lecture  once  a  week  at  the  Hospital. 

Mr.  Woodhouse  commenced  his  spiritual  labour 
at  Goosnargh  Church  on  Sunday  morning,  the 
3Oth  day  of  April,  1854.  His  first  text  was  this 
most  appropriate  one,  taken  from  the  latter  part 
of  the  1 6th  verseof  gth  Chapter  of  the  first  epistle 
of  Paul  the  apostle  to  the  Corinthians  "  Woe  is 
unto  me  if  I  preach  not  the  Gospel." 

A  good  foundation  and  he  built  well  upon  it, 
and  on  his  resigning  the  Curacy  here  in  1861 
he  was  presented  with  a  purse  of  gold  (sixty 
guineas)  and  an  address  of  which  the  following 
is  a  copy. 

Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, 

It  is  with  strange  and  mingled  feelings 
that  we  present  this  address,  on  your  being 
called  from  your  Ministry  here,  to  another 
and  we  trust  a  comfortable  and  more 


I2O  GOOSXARGH  : 

permanent  station.  We  heartily  con- 
gratulate you  on  the  appointment  you  have 
received,  but  sorely  regret  that  we  are  about 
to  be  deprived  of  the  services  and  society 
of  one  whose  kindness  and  manner  of 
firmness  of  mind  and  consistency  of  con- 
duct has  won  for  himself  an  endearing  and 
everlasting  respect. 

And  whilst  we  would  scrupulously  avoid 
terms  savouring  of  flattery,  we  cannot  how- 
ever overlook  that  during  a  period  of  over 
seven  years  which  you  have  ministered 
here,  you  have  kept  back  nothing  that 
was  profitable  unto  us,  constantly  in  public 
and  in  private,  introducing  the  gospel 
message,  and  endeavouring  to  win  souls 
to  Christ,  always  pointing  us  to  the  blood 
sprinkled  tree,  and  exhorting  us  to  put 
our  entire  trust  in,  and  build  our  hopes 
on  the  atoning  merits  of  Christ  Jesus  as 
our  only  hope  of  glory.  And  we  believe 
and  rejoice  in  the  belief  that  your  ministry 
has  not  been  in  vain,  and  if  the  harvest 
has  not  been  abundant,  we  doubl  not,  ( for 
the  promise  standeth  sure,)  that  much  of 
the  good  seed  which  has  been  so  judiciously 
and  unspareingly  sown  will  in  the  time  of 
the  early  or  latter  rain  spring  up  and  yield 
fruit,  which  throughout  eternal  ages  will 
add  to  your  joy  and  crown  of  glory: — 
playful  with  the  children,  cheerful  with 
the  young,  sedate  with  the  aged,  tender 
and  sympathizing  with  the  afflicted, 
humble  and  universally  kind,  in  all  things 
approving  yourself  as  a  Minister  of  God. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  121 

The  Gift  that  we  offer  to  you  very 
inadequately  expresses  our  esteem  and 
respect,  but  believe  it  Dear  Sir,  to  be 
bound  up  with  the  bonds  of  sincerity  and 
love,  and  we  trust  you  will  accept  it  as  a 
memento  to  you  and  to  your  family,  and 
may  you  long  be  spared  to  be  a  guide  and 
support  thereto,  and  may  your  Ministry 
in  your  new  station,  and  through  a  long 
healthy  life,  be  blest  to  the  conversion  of 
many  souls,  and  when  you  close  your 
earthly  course,  may  those  blessed  words 
sound  in  your  ears,  "Well  done  thou  good 
and  faithful  servant,  enter  thou  into  the 
joy  of  thy  Loid." 

GEORGE  PARKINSON  ]  -,       , 
THOMAS  DIXON         J  Churchwardens. 

To  the  Rev.  John  Woodhouse, 

Curate  of  Goosnargh. 

In  1867  the  venerable  Church  at  Goosnargh* 
having  become  very  dilapidated,  and  an  effort 
being  made  to  effect  restoration,  a  would-be  poet 
wrote  upon  it  as  follows  : — 

"When  I  surveyed  our  Goosnargh  Church, 
Surely  thought  I,  it's  left  i'th'  lurch  ; 
Its  old  batter'd  back  broken  roof 
Is  far  from  being  water  proof. 
Its  slates  are  sadly  worn  and  torn, 
The  wind  and  rain  has  hard  them  worn, 
Which  prut  is  worst  'tis  hard  to  say, 
For  timbers  too  are  giving  way. 
Batter'd,  broken,  decay'd  the  doors, 
Uneven,  unmatted  are  the  floors  ; 
The  hospital  gallery  unseemly  is, 
To  take  it  down  would  be  no  miss  ; 

*  From  the  appearance  of  the  interior  of  the  Church,  it  would  seem 
that  originally  the  roof  was  thatched.. 


122  GOOSNARGH  : 

The  pews  likewise,  '  O  goodness  days,' 

Are  made  in  many  forms  and  ways — 

Some  are  painted  and  varnished  bright, 

Some  are  black,  some  brown,  some  white 

Some  are  of  hard  old  English  wood, 

Some  of  soft  deal  not  very  good  ; 

Some  very  old,  some  very  new, 

Here  single,  and  there  double  pew  ; 

Some  very  wide,  some  very  tall, 

Others  narrow  and  very  small. 

The  font  which  stands  the  organ  nigh 

For  dipping  made  is  much  too  high, 

In  the  same  place  it  long  has  stood, 

And  its  internal  form  is  good, 

But  it  is  of  so  rude  a  make, 

Let  us  renew  for  decent  sake  ; 

The  oak  forms  without  a  back 

Are  but  a  clumsy  ugly  pack. 

The  chancel  is  not  very  neat, 

But  here  I'm  getting  off  my  beat  ; 

Without  it  we  have  got  our  share, 

And  other  hands  do  this  repair — 

They  are  rich  parties  I  suppose, 

I  hope  they'll  do  as  we  propose. 

The  vestry  is  a  dreary  spot 

And  mean's  the  furniture  it  has  got  ; 

The  warming  stoves  are  but  poor, 

I  hope  we's  have  them  on  the  floor. 

The  burial  ground  I'd  extend  forth 

In  the  direction  of  the  north, 

But  the  drainage  of  the  ground 

Very  defective  would  be  found  ; 

To  all  trees  of  the  name  of  Ash 

I'd  say,  '  Woodman,  make  a  crash  ;' 

And  let  the  proceeds  expended  be 

In  repairing  the  fences  decently. 

The  pulpit  has  three  decks  you  see, 

Over  shaded  by  a  canopy  ; 

Its  shape  is  of  such  olden  style, 

The  like's  not  found  in  many  a  mile. 

The  window  frames,  old  and  tatter'd, 

The  lead  and  glass,  sadly  batter'd — 

Let's  not  shut  out  and  put  to  flight 

God's  sun  and  His  most  glorious  light. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  123 

Whitewash  enough  there  is  no  doubt, 
Whitewash  within,  whitewash  without  ; 
It's  difficult  to  keep  the  floors  dry 
While  stands  the  earth  so  very  high  ; 
Snow,  sleet  or  rain  how  hard  it  may, 
Not  a  spout  to  carry  it  away. 
Come  rally  round  this  Temple  old, 
And  your  purse  strings  wide  unfold  : 
Not  because  we've  High  Church  to-day, 
Or  change  to  Low  to-morrow  may — 
It's  God's  House,  the  Court  of  the  Lord, 
And  repair  surely  we  can  afford. 
Shall  we  our  own  houses  deck 
And  let  Jehovah's  run  to  reck  ? 
No  !  though  our  Church  is  decay'd, 
Nearly  new  it  must  be  made, 
In  style,  simple,  plain,  pure  and  good. 
No  nonsense  be  it  understood, 
So  send  in  subscriptions  free  and  good  ; 
A  few  i'  th'  cause  will  do  their  best — 
Kindly  let's  see  your  name  i'  th'  list. 

RESTITUO. 
Goosnargh,  1867. 

As  per  the  aforesaid  village  rhymster  the 
Church  being  in  a  very  dilapidated  state,  a  sub- 
scription list  was  opened  for  funds  to  renovate 
the  same  and  responded  to  as  follows: — 

£     s.    D. 

Anonymous,  per  Mrs.  Mounsey i     o     o 

Robert  Ascroft,  Whittingham 10     o     o 

John  BairstOAv,  Preston       25     o     o 

Rev.  G.  L.  Beckwith,  Salop       5     o     o 

Rev.  Thomas  Benn,  Goosnargh         ...     5     o     o 
William  Lucas  Benn,  Goosnargh      ...      i     o     o 

Mrs.  Berry,  Goosnargh       50     o     o 

John  Baxter  Boothman,  Whittingham     500 

Richard  Cookson,  Goosnargh     10     o     o 

John  Cross,  Liverpool 25     o     o 

Miss  Cross  Goosnargh        5     o     o 


124  GOOSNARGH: 

£  S.  D. 

Richard  Baines  Dixon,  Preston 30  o  o 

Mrs.  Eastwood,  Brindle      2  o  o 

John  Graham,  Goosnargh 10  o  o 

Daniel  Graham,  Goosnargh       2  2  o 

Miss  Harrison,  Poulton       20  o  o 

Rev.  W.  Hornby,  St.  Michaels 5  o  o 

C.  R.  Jacson,  Barton 10  o  o 

Rev.  John  Kitton,  Hutton 55° 

Townley  Rigby  Knowles,  Preston     ...  25  o  o 

Mrs.  Langton,  London        i  i  o 

Mrs.  Harriet  Lucas,  London       ...      ...     2  o  o 

William  Miller,  Preston      10  o  o 

Thomas  Mounsey,  Goosnargh    25  o  o 

Richard  Newsham,  Preston        50  o  o 

Henry  Oakey,  Preston        oio  6 

Richard  Oliverson,  London        100  o  o 

Robert  Oliverson,  London 50  o  o 

Thomas  Oliverson,  London        100  o  o 

Mrs.  C.  Oliverson,  Goosnargh    25  o  o 

Christopher  Oliverson,  Goosnargh    ...   50  o  o 
Four  Officers  in  the  Preston  Volunteer 

Artillery,  per  Mrs.  Mounsey 4  o  o 

Philip  Park,  Preston 50  o  o 

George  Pownall,  London    5  o  o 

Miss  Pownall,  Reigate         I  I  o 

John  Scott,  Whittingham 5  o  o 

Mrs.  Scott,  Whittingham 5  o  o 

William  Shaw,  Preston       50  o  o 

Rev.  William  Shilleto,  Goosnargh    ...  26  5  o 

Mrs.  Shilleto,  Goosnargh    5  5  o 

Thomas  Sumner,  Goosnargh      30  o  o 

Andrew  Stothert,  Goosnargh     I  o  o 

Mrs.  R.  Stothert,  Goosnargh     i  10  o 

Thomas  Smith,  Goosnargh         5  o  o 


PAST   AN'D    PRESENT.  125 


£ 

s. 

D. 

John  Slagg,  Manchester     

10 

o 

o 

Richard  Threlfall,  Hollowforth... 

5 

o 

o 

Mr.    Williamson's   Executors    (Whit- 

tingham  Hall)  

2^ 

o 

o 

"3 

John  Nuttall,  Goosnargh    ...      

I 

0 

o 

Alice  Nuttall,  Goosnargh   

I 

0 

0 

Henry  Cowell,  Goosnargh  

I 

0 

0 

J.  W.  C.  Bone,  London       

I 

I 

0 

Ellen  Rich,  Goosnargh        

0 

3 

0 

Robert  Sharpies,  Goosnargh       

I 

o 

0 

Richard  Strickland,  Goosnargh  

0 

IO 

o 

John  Jackson,  Whittingham     

3 

3 

o 

Edward  Rich,  Whittingham      

o 

2 

6 

Richard  Cookson,  Jnr.  Whittingham 

o 

IO 

o 

Trustees  of  Goosnargh  Hospital 

IOO 

O 

o 

Mr  Lucas  London      

IO 

o 

o 

Daniel  Arkwright,  Preston         

50 

o 

o 

Mr  Hermon   Preston  

so 

o 

o 

Jw 

John  Howcroft,  Howick     

I 

o 

o 

William  James  Parkinson,  Preston  ... 

52 

10 

o 

John  Thos.  Parker  Parkinson,  Preston 

26 

5 

o 

William  Alston,  Preston    

2 

2 

o 

Richard  Walmsley,  Preston       

O 

5 

o 

George  Bleasdale,  Goosnargh    

o 

2 

6 

Jonathan  Charnock,  Goosnargh 

I 

O 

o 

Anonymous,  per  Richard  Cookson    ... 

I 

0 

o 

William  Imery,  Goosnargh        

I 

0 

o 

George  Hargreaves,  Leyland      

50 

o 

o 

Miss  Ann  Walmsley,  Whittingham... 

0 

IO 

o 

Levi  Yates,  Whittingham  

0 

IO 

o 

Richard  Strickland,  Penwortham 

I 

0 

0 

Thomas  Stothert,  Blackburn     

I 

0 

0 

William  Lancaster,  Goosnargh  

I 

o 

0 

Rev.  —  Trousfhton 

IO 

o 

o 

126  GOOSNARGH: 


Mrs.  Parkinson,  Toll  Bar,  Goosnargh. 
J.  W.  C.  Bone,  London  
Thomas  Walne,  Goosnargh  
Thomas  Smith,  Oak  Tree,  Goosnargh 
Robert  Sanderson,  Goosnargh  
Thomas  Parker,  Goosnargh  
Amount  of  Public  Collections  
Interest  

£ 

i 
i 
o 

i 

0 

I 

62 

T  T 

s. 

0 

I 
10 

0 

5 

0 

o 

A 

I). 

0 
0 

o 
o 
o 
o 

2 

2 

Church  Dues,  per  Mr.  Shilleto  

18 

14 

9 

^1369     8     7 


The  Rev.  Charles  Osborne  Gordon  is  the 
present  vicar.  The  sittings  are  free  and  will 
accommodate  450  persons. 

The  Church  had  no  warming  apparatus  pre- 
vious to  1850,  and  the  Church  for  the  first  time 
was  furnished  with  an  organ  in  1856,  which  bears 
the  honourable  inscription — 

THE   GIFT  OF  ROBERT  OLIVERSON,  ESQUIRE, 

OF   LONDON. 

1856. 

Mr.  George  Pownell  repaired  the  stone  work 
of  the  chancel  window,  the  expenses  were 
/45  i  os. 

In  prosecution  of  the  said  restoration  a  build- 
ing committee  was  formed,  who  engaged  Mr. 
Paley,  Architect  of  Lancaster  to  draw  up  a  plan 
and  specification,  and  under  his  direction  they 
entered  into  a  contract  with  Mr.  Shaw,  Builder, 
of  Lancaster,  as  follows  : — 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  127 

£      S.      D. 

Contract. 

Removing  pulpit,  new  floors  in 
Church,  three  new  dormer  win- 
dows, cleaning  whitewash  off  roof, 
excavating  and  masons'  work  in- 
side Church,  drains,  slating  and 
plastering  roof,  plumbing,  glazing 
and  sundry  jobbing  496  4  10^ 

687  cubic  feet  of  new  oak  timber  in 

roof  at  75.  per  foot  ...  240  9  o 

Plastering  walls  two  coats  as  directed, 
repairing  windows,  rebation  and 
drilling  window  stays  for  new  lead- 
lights,  plumbing  and  glazing  for 
new  windows,  underpinning  walls 
and  pillars  ...  , 68  10  o 

Restoring  vestry  including  new  roof 

and  chimney 52  o  o 

New  oak  doors  for  porch  and  tower, 
including  iron  work,  locks  and 
keys  complete,  new  stone  work 
for  porch  door,  porch  seating  and 
stone  sills  to  nave  window 52  19  o 

New  seats  in  body  of  Church 226  15     7^ 

New  oak  door  and  hinges  for  vestry       400 

Pointing  front  of  Church,  porch, 

tower,  windows,  &c 20  14  7 

New  corbals  and  walling  up  recess     24  10     9 

Window  lintels,  flue  for  stove,  steps 
and  pillar  to  font  and  lining  do. 
with  lead,  cleaning  roof  timbers, 
Altar  table  and  screen,  &c 41  18  10 

Iron  gates  to  porch  and  threshold  to 

outer  porch  door 8  12  9 


128  GOOSNARGH  : 

£       S.      D. 

Cleaning  and  repairing  tower  arch 
and  interior  of  tower,  new  oak 
door  to  turret  steps  with  hinges, 
&c.,new  chiselled  threshold  to  outer 
door  of  tower,  repairing  and  glazing 
tower  windows,  repairing  tower 
roof  and  ringers'  room  floor  and 
making  and  fixing  new  iron  stays 

for  bell  ropes 23   15     9 

Ornamental  work  to  chancel  arch.  .     30     o    o 

Altar  rail 20    o    o 

Extras        13     o     o 


1333     6     2 
Less  Middleton  Chapel  (paid  by  Mr. 

Shaw)     50     o     o 


1283     6     2 
Mr.  Paley's  Commission  (Architect)     86     2     5 


^1369     8     7 

On  the  said  restoration,  Fish  wick  in  his  History 
of  Goosnargh  thus  writes : — 

"In  1868  the  Church  was  thoroughly 
and  substantially  repaired.  The  roof  was 
renovated  and  wholly  restored ;  the  main 
timbers  repaired,  and  new  spars  added 
throughout;  the  stone  work  of  some  of 
the  old  windows  was  renewed,  and  new 
dormer  windows  inserted.  Inside  the  build- 
ing, the  earth  was  removed  to  the  depth 
of  one  foot,  concrete  put  in  its  place  and 
boarded  over,  except  in  the  aisles  which 
are  flagged,  the  walls  were  cleaned  from 


PAST    AND    PRESENT.  I  29 

the  roughcast  and  whitewash  by  which 
they  had  been  so  long  disfigured ;  the  two 
galleries  and  the  old  pews  were  removed, 
and  the  body  of  the  Church  fitted  up  with 
uniform    seats,  all  of  which  are  allotted. 
The   total    cost   of    the    alterations   and 
repairs  was  ^1938,  of  which  /375  was 
defrayed  by  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Christ 
Church,  Oxford ;    /so  by  Mr.  W.  Shaw 
(for    Middleton    Chapel),    the    remainder 
having  been  met  by  collections  in  Church 
and  public  subscriptions.     The  reopening 
services  took  place  on  the  24th  June,  1869 ; 
the  hon.  and  Rev.   G.  T.  O.  Bridgman, 
Rector  of  Wigan,  preached  the  sermon. 
To  the  credit  of  all  concerned,  every  one 
of  the  old  monumental  inscriptions  on  the 
floor   or   elsewhere  have  not  only   been 
preserved  but  have  been  replaced  as  near 
as  possible  in  their  original  position. 
The  Church  as  it  now  stands  consists  of  a  nave, 
north  and  south  aisles  and  chancel,  with  belfry 
and  tower  at  the  west  end ;    the  architecture  of 
the  south  aisle  is  debased  and  the  Church  bears 
marks  of   having   been   built   piece-meal.     The 
Middleton  Choir  is  in  the  north  aisle  and  is  evi- 
dently much  altered  from  its  original  condition, 
though  the  walls  are  of  the  same  date  probably  as 
those  of  the  north  aisle  (which  contains  some 
windows  of  good  character),  and  is  with  the  north 
nave  arches  and  chancel,  apparently  the  oldest 
portion  of  the  present  fabric.     There   are   two 
windows  of  good  type  in  the  chancel  of  the  same 
style  as  those  in  the  north  aisle,  which  is  evidence 
of  their  being  constructed  about  the  same  date, 


1 30  GOOSNARGH  : 

perhaps  the  latter  part  of  the  I4th  century.  The 
Middleton  Chapel  is  separated  from  the  rest  of 
the  Church  by  an  ancient  oak  screen,  and  is  still 
appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  owners  of  Middle- 
ton  Hall.  On  the  south  side  of  the  screen  is 
carved  A.  R.,  1622,  and  on  the  west  side  T.  R., 
1721. 

The  tower  is  a  massive  structure  sixty  feet  high, 
and  is  built  for  the  most  part  (like  the  rest  of 
the  Church)  of  unhewn  boulder  pebbles.  The 
walls  at  its  base  are  several  feet  thick,  and  on  two 
of  the  buttresses  are  small  shields  which  have 
once  had  arms  on  them,  but  which  time  has  com- 
pletely obliterated ;  they  may  perhaps  have  been 
charged  with  the  arms  of  the  Singletons. 

On  the  west  face  of  the  tower,  at  about  12  feet 
from  the  ground,  is  a  circular  figure  eighteen 
inches  in  diameter,  which  is  quite  different  from 
those  marks  often  found  on  old  buildings  known 
as  masons'  or  guild  marks.  The  old  tradition 
about  it  is  that  an  old  lady,  by  the  proceeds  of 
her  industry  at  flax  spinning,  defrayed  the  ex- 
penses of  building  the  tower  to  the  height 
indicated  by  this  circular  carving,  which  is  uni- 
versally called  the  "spinning  wheel."  Whatever 
may  be  its  history  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  that 
it  was  made  to  answer  some  specific  object. 

The  ornamental  chancel  window  was  put  in  by 
Mr.  William  James  Parkinson  of  Myerscough 
House,  Myerscough,  as  a  memorial  of  his  late 
wife,  and  is  inscribed  as  follows  : — 

To  the  Glory  of  God,  and  in  loving  memory  of 
Mary  Parkinson  deceased,  27  December,  1876,  aged 
36  years.  This  window  is  erected  by  her  husband 
W.  J.  Parkinson,  1880. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  131 

In  1877  the  belfry,  Church  tower,  Church-yard 
wall  and  outer  walls  of  the  Church  were  repaired, 
the  expenses  being  £106  75.  id.,  and  paid  for  by 
subscription. 


NAMES    OF   THE    PRESENT    24   MEN. 

REV.  C.  O.  GORDON  O.  HAYHURST 

REV.  E.  D.  BANISTER  R.  BUTLER 

REV.  G.  B.  STONES  W.  ALSTON 

T.  SUMNER  J.  T.  P.  PARKINSON 

C.  R.  JACSON  J.  HOUGH 

R.  OLIVCRSON  T.  HALL 

T.  OLIVERSON  J.  HAIGHTON 

W.  P.  PARK  J.  KAY 

T.  SMITH  T.  R.  KNOWLES 

J.  SMITH  Rt.  BAILEY 

R.  COOKSON  J.  SMITH  (Beech  House) 

T.  WINDERS  T.  PORTER 

The  burial  ground  having  become  very  crowded 
it  was  thought  desirable  to  make  an  effort  to 
enlarge  the  same,  and  in  accordance  a  meeting 
was  convened  and  held  at  Goosnargh  School  on 
the  1 7th  day  of  November,  1870. 

Present: — Daniel  Graham,  Oliver  Hayhurst, 
Thomas  Sumner,  John  Jackson,  John  Cross,  John 
Smith,  Roger  Smith,  Edward  Bailey,  John  B. 
Boothman,  Richard  Cookson,  senr.,  Richard 
Cookson,  junr.,  James  Kay,  William  Lancaster, 
Henry  Riding,  Christopher  Oliverson,  John 
Graham,  Thomas  Blackburn,  Jonathan  Charnock, 
and  the  Rev.  Wm.  Shilleto. 

William  Lancaster  in  the  chair. 

I  2 


132  GOOSNARGH: 

1.  It  was  unanimously  resolved,  subject  to  the 
approval   of  the  vicar  the  Rev.  Wm.    Shilleto 
(who  at  that  stage  of  the  business  had  not  entered 
the  meeting),  that  the  yard  be  enlarged  a  little 
over  one  half  of  a  statute  acre  31  yards  north 
from  the  present  yard  and  the  whole  length  of 
the  Church  croft. 

2.  Also  it  was  agreed,  subject  to  the  approval 
of  the  vicar,  that  the  west  side  of  the  old  yard 
and  the  west  side  of  the  new  ground  to  be  added 
be  palisaded  3  feet  high,  upon  a  stone  coped  wall 
2  feet  high,  and  that  the  north  and  east  sides  of 
the  enclosure  be  fenced  with  a  stone  wall  5  feet 
high,  with  punched  pointed  coping. 

3.  It  was  estimated   that  the  cost  of  the  en- 
largement, including  the  conveyance  and  conse- 
cration, would  be  ^"150. 

4.  To  meet  the  said  expenses  it  was  agreed  to 
lay  a  rate  of  3d.  in  the   £  upon  the  occupiers  of 
the  Lower  Division  of  Goosnargh  and  the  whole 
of  the  Township  of  Whittingham. 

5.  That  a  sub-committee  of  six  persons,  namely 
William  Lancaster,  Edward  Bailey,  James  Kay, 
John  Smith,  Jonathan  Charnock  and   Thomas 
Blackburn  be  appointed  to  assist  the  wardens  to 
collect  the  rate  and  explain  the  business  to  the 
ratepayers. 

6.  That    Messrs.  Thomas   Sumner  and   John 
Jackson  be  deputed   to  ascertain   the   prices  of 
palisading   at   different    manufacturies    of    that 
article. 

7.  That  the  names  of  Townley  Rigby  Knowles, 
Esq.,  and  Mr.  Andrew  Stothert  be  added  to  the 
committee. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  133 

8.  That  the  committee  meet  again  at  Goos- 
nargh  School  on  the  8th  December,  at  3  p.m. 

WILLIAM  LANCASTER,  Chairman. 

At  a  meeting  held  by  adjournment  at  Goos- 
nargh  School,  this  8th  day  of  December,  1870. 
Present : — The  Rev.  W.  Shilleto,  John  Smith, 
James  Kay,  William  Lancaster,  John  B.  Booth- 
man,  John  Nuttall,  John  Cross,  Andrew  Stothert, 
Thomas  Sumner,  Jonathan  Charnock,  Daniel 
Graham,  Oliver  Hayhurst,  Major  Mounsey, 
Richard  Cookson,  John  Graham  and  Edward 
Bailey. 

1.  It  appeared  that  the  rate  ordered  at  the  last 
meeting  to  be  collected  had  produced  ^"75  los.gd., 
and  that  a  few  pounds  more  may  be  expected 
from  the  same  source. 

2.  It  was  agreed  that  the  churchwardens  en- 
gage Messrs.  Garlick,  Park  and  Sykes  to  make  a 
plan  and  specification  of  the  work  to  be  done  and . 
also  an  estimate  of  the  cost  of  the  same. 

3.  That  the  extent  of  the  enlargement  be  one- 
half  of  the  Church  croft  (i  rood  and  30  perches 
statute.) 

4.  That    Oliver    Hayhurst,    Daniel    Graham> 
William  Lancaster  and  Richard  Cookson   be  a 
sub-committee  to  meet  Messrs.  T.  R.  Knowles 
and  Shepherd  Birley  and  solicit  their  aid. 

Palisading  being  found  too  expensive,  it  was 
resolved  to  enclose  the  ground  with  a  stone  wall 
and  supplement  the  amount  of  the  above  rate  by 
subscriptions  to  cover  the  expenses  which  were 
as  follows  : — 


134  GOOSNARGH: 

£  s.  D. 

Account  Books,  Circulars,  &c o  14  5 

Advertising o  2  6 

Deed  of  Transfer 8  o  o 

Architects'  Charge       5  5  o 

Draining        20  o  o 

Builders'  Account     '    130  6  6 


^164     8     5 


CHURCH   TERRIER. 


I  am  not  aware  that  the  Church  authorities 
possess  any  terrier  :  here  is  a  loose  link  that 
needs  attending  to. 

WHITECHAPEL 
OR   THE   CHURCH    OF   WHITECHAPEL. 

I  regret  to  be  compelled  to  state  that  I  have 
not  been  able  to  ascertain  the  date  of  the  found- 
ation of  Whitechapel.* 

The  first  notice  I  find  of  it  is  in  the  Lamb 
Libr.  which  is  compiled  from  Parliamentary 
enquiries  and  runs  thus  :  — 

"  White-chapel  within  Goosnargh  al's  Threl- 
fall  chapel,  certified  that  nothing  at  all 
belonged  to  it,  and  is  served  now  and  then 
only  out  of  charity  and  at  the  request  of 
the  people."  (This  account  is  without 
date.) 

Another  record  copied  from  the  same  source 
runs  thus  :  — 


*  I  adopt  the  name  by  which  it  is  usually  known  as  being  the  most 
explicit. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  135 

"  The  date  of  the  foundation  of  White-chapel 
is  unknown.  In  1650  the  inhabitants  of 
the  Chapel  of  Threlfall  within  Goosnargh 
desired  to  be  made  a  parisht  as  they  con- 
sisted of  fourscore  families,  and  were  three 
miles  distant  from  Goosnargh  Chapel. 
Their  Chapel  had  no  endowment,  but  £$o 
a  year  was  allowed  to  Mr.  Sherburne  their 
curate  by  the  committee  of  plundered 
ministers." 

Whitechapel  was  originally  dedicated  to  St. 
James,  and  is  situate  about  the  centre  of  the 
Higher  Division  of  Goosnargh  in  the  Threlfall 
Tithery,  and  as  above  stated  was  thence  called 
Threlfall  Chapel.  One  Threlfall  t  of  Ashes,  || 
Goosnargh,  appears  to  have  been  the  great  man 
of  the  place  from  whom  it  is  probable  that  both 
the  Chapel  and  Tithery  H  had  their  names.  How 
the  Chapel  obtained  the  name  of  Whitechapel  I 
cannot  learn,  but  it  appears  it  was  known  by 
that  name  in  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth.  The 
following  is  a  record  of  some  of  their  doings  at 
Whitechapel  in  the  reign  of  "Good  Queen  Bess," 
which  I  borrow  from  an  old  paper  how  lodged  with 
the  faculty  of  the  Chapel. 

t  This  request  was  granted  on  the  2ist  January,  1846,  only  196  years 
.fter  it  was  petitioned  for  ! 


me  root  01  a  nouse  in  rresion  in  1745.     i^ei  omers  ueware. 

Ij  This  is  one  of  the  most  ancient  houses  in  the  district,  and  a  few 
years  ago  on  the  house  being  repaired,  some  "  priest-holes "  or  hiding 
places  were  broken  into  and  removed. 

1T  "  King  Alfred  or  Alfred  the  Great  who  reigned  over  England  from 
871  to  900,  for  the  better  regulation  of  his  kingdom,  divided  it  into  counties 
and  parishes,  and  distributed  the  powers  of  government  among  officers  of 
different  degrees,  from  the  Earl  who  with  the  Sheriff  was  set  over  the 
shire  or  county,  to  the  Tithing  man  who  was  bound  for  the  good  behaviour 
of  his  more  immediate  neighbours." 


136  GOOSXARGH  : 

"  Donations  and  Contributions  to  the  White- 
chapel  in  Goosnargh,  within  the  Parish  of 
Kirkham,  and  the  Free  School  taught 
there  since  the  year  1 705 ,  for  it  was  unknown 
whether  any  salary  belonged  to  the  said 
places  before  that  time  since  the  Reform- 
ation, but  it  hath  appeared  by  a  promised 
sealed  security,  dated  the  27th  day  of 
January,  in  the  twenty-third  year  (1581) 
of  Queen  Eliz.,  that  a  bell  belonging  to 
the  said  Chapel  was  lent  to  Alexander 
Houghton  of  Lea,  Esq.,  by  Edmund 
Threlfall  of  Goosnargh ;  and  the  said 
Alexander  did  promise  that  if  at  any  time 
thereafter  it  did  fortune  that  divine 
service  shall  be  had  and  commonly  used 
in  the  said  Chapel,  he,  the  said  Alexander, 
his  heirs  or  assigns,  upon  reasonable 
request,  should  deliver  or  cause  to  be 
delivered  to  the  said  Edmund,  or  some  of 
the  inhabitants  or  tenants  there,  the 
said  bell,  to  be  kept  and  used  at  the  Chapel 
aforesaid,  as  the  same  heretofore  had  been 
kept  and  used. 

But  upon  application  to  Sir  Henry 
,  Houghton  about  the  year  1728  for  the 
said  bell,  he  said  '  Queen  Elizabeth  had 
given  a  bond  to  his  ancestors  for  ^"50 
which  was  not  worth  anything  at  all,  and 
he  had  no  tenants  in  Goosnargh.'  How- 
ever he  gave  ten  shillings,  and  said  they 
(Dr.  Bushell,  Alderman  Walls,  Mr.  John 
Fishwick  and  Mr.  John  Baines)  might 
take  the  security  and  lodge  it  again  in  the 
Church  chest ;  but  the  said  gentlemen 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  137 

say'd  he  should  take  the  security  and 
hoped  he  would  consider  of  it  and  give 
more.  There  was  no  more  got.  There 
was  a  copy  of  the  said  security  taken  be- 
fore, which  is  lodged  with  the  faculty 
belonging  to  the  said  Whitechapel." 

The  record  of  the  "  donations  and  contribu- 
tions "  to  the  Whitechapel  above  referred  to  is 
as  follows  :  — 

Goosnargh,  Easter  Tuesday, 

April  ye.  igth,  1720. 

An  account  or  record  of  the  Queen's  Bounty, 
and  the  contributions  in  conjunction  therewith, 
for  advancing  the  Salary  of  a  Curate  at  the 
Whitechapel  in  Goosnargh  aforesaid. 

Governours  and  Contributors. 

£    s.     D. 

Paid  by  y?  Governours  of  the  Queen's 

Bounty     200     o     o 

By   Mr.    James   Baines    of    Poolton 

(Poulton) 100     o     o 

By  y^  Execrs  of  W™  Higham  of  Goosn1: 

afforsd       060     o     o 

By  y1:  sd  Exec1?  towards  buying  Books 
for  Poor  Children  learning  at  y^  s? 
Whitechapel,  being  inserted  and 
allowed  in  y?  Deeds  relating  thereto  020  o  o 

Paid  by  the  Execu™  of  Mr.  John  Cross, 
of  Barton,  being  charged  upon  y<?  sd 
Mr.  John  Cross  upon  his  lands  in 
Goosnargh,  now  in  the  possession 
of  James  Parkinson  (Plane  Tree)...  030  o  o 


138  GOOSNARGH: 

£     s. 

And  the  further  sum  of  £22  IDS., 
arising  out  of  a  certain  parcel  of 
Land  in  Goosnargh,  affors<?  now  in 
the  possession  of  Geo.  Parkinson, 
being  only  a  present  Rent  of  55. 
per  annum,  and  the  Reversion  after 
30  years'  possession  now  sold  to  y? 
s4Geo:  Parkinson  ..  .  022  10 


In  all     432   10     o 

Lands  Purchased. 

£     s.    D. 

From  Robert  Eccles  lying  and  being 
at  the  Barnes  Fold  in  Goosnargh 
aforesl  to  the  value  of 330  o  o 

And  from  James  Fishwich,  Barton 
Parkinson,  Thomas  Adamson, 
James  Bleasdale,  Execur.s  of  the  last 
Will  and  Testament  of  William 
Higham  late  of  Goosnargh  afores"? 
Yeom.  deceasd.  the  Lands  called 
Beesley  Ground  to  the  value  of  ...  100  o  o 


In  all     430     o    o 

N.B.  The  remaining  £2  IDS.  was  allowed 
towards  repairing  the  housing  at  Barns  Fold. 

REBUILDING    OF    WHITECHAPEL. 

Whitechapel  was  rebuilt  and  enlarged  by  sub- 
scriptions in  the  years  1738,  1739  and  J74O,  the 
charge  including  the  old  material  being  ^f  176 
i6s.  d. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT.  139 

Licence  for  the  said  rebuilding. 

William  Strafford  Doctor  of  Laws,  Commissary 
in  and  throughout  the  whole  Archdeaconary  of 
Richmond,  in  the  diocese  of  Chester,  and  Com- 
missioner of  the  Worshipful  Peregrine 
esquire,  Bachelor  of  Laws,  Vicar-General  and 
Official-principal  of  the  Right  Reverend  Father 
in  God  Samuel,  by  Divine  permission  Lord  Bishop 
of  Chester,  (to  whom  this  Jurisdiction  during  the 
visitation  of  the  said  Lord  Bishop  doth  appertain) 
lawfully  constituted.  To  George  Green,  John 
Baines,  John  Wilson  and  Christopher  Oliverson, 
Yeomen,  inhabitants  within  the  Chapelry  of 
Whitechapel,  in  the  Township  of  Goosnargh, 
Parish  of  Kirkham,  and  Archdeaconery  aforesaid 
Greeting. 

Whereas  We  have  been  certified  under  the 
hands  of  the  Rev.  John  Penny,  Clerk,  Minister  of 
Whitechapel  aforesaid,  Robert  Parkinson,  Willm 
Lancaster,  John  Parkinson,  John  Sergeant,  James 
Brandwood,  Christopher  Brandwood,  Thomas 
Singleton,  Edmund  Eccles,  James  Bleasdale, 
Richard  Ward  and  John  Beesley,  principal 
inhabitants  within  the  Chapelry  of  Whitechapel 
aforesaid.  That  the  said  Chapel  is  lately  fallen, 
and  become  so  ruinous,  that  it  is  impracticable  to 
repair  the  same  without  rebuilding  thereof,  and 
that  the  congregation  usually  resorting  thereto 
is  become  very  numerous,  insomuch  that  the  said 
Chapel  will  not  conveniently  contain  two-thirds 
thereof;  the  said  Chapel  at  present  extending 
only  in  length  nine  yards  and  in  breadth  4  yards 
and  one  foot. 


140  GOOSNARGH  : 

And  whereas  the  said  minister  and  inhabitants 
have  further  certified  us  that  it  is  not  only 
necessary  to  rebuild  but  also  to  enlarge  the  said 
Chapel,  so  as  to  contain  in  length  sixteen  yards 
and  in  breadth  seven  yards,  and  have  petitioned 
us  to  grant  to  you,  the  said  George  Green,  John 
Baines,  John  Wilson,  and  Christopher  Oliverson, 
our  licence  and  authority  to  rebuild  and  enlarge 
the  said  Chapel,  according  to  the  dimensions  last 
mentioned,  with  convenient  pews  or  seats  therein, 
for  the  use  of  the  said  persons  and  all  other 
inhabitants  within  the  Chapelry  of  Whitechapel 
aforesaid,  wherein  to  sit,  kneel,  hear  and  attend 
Divine  Service  and  sermons,  at  the  proper  costs 
and  charges  of  the  respective  inhabitants  afore- 
said, and  such  other  well  disposed  persons  as  shall 
be  contributors  thereto ;  the  said  Chapel  to  be 
rebuilt  with  pews  or  seats  therein,  conformable 
to  the  platform  annexed.  And  whereas,  the 
Rev.  William  Dickson,  Vicar  of  the  Parish 
Church  of  Kirkham  aforesaid,  and  the  Rev. 
William  Whitehead,  Minister  of  the  Parochial 
Chapel  of  Goosnargh  aforesaid,  have  testified 
their  consents  in  writing  under  their  hands  to 
}he  rebuilding  and  enlarging  the  said  Chapel. 
We  therefore  having  duly  considered  the  import- 
ance of  the  said  petition  and  certificate,  and 
being  desirous  to  encourage  and  forward  so  pious 
a  work,  do  hereby  give  unto  you,  the  said 
George  Green,  John  Baines,  John  Wilson  and 
Christopher  Oliverson  our  full  power,  licence 
and  authority  to  take  down  such  part  of  the 
said  Chapel  as  is  yet  standing,  and  to  make  use 
of  and  apply  such  of  the  materials  thereof  as  may 
be  useful,  for  rebuilding  and  enlarging  the  said 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  14! 

Chapel  and  to  erect  uniform  seats  or  pews  in 
the  said  Chapel  when  rebuilt  according  to  the 
scheme  or  platform  annexed;  referring  never- 
the  less  to  us  and  successors  the  power  of  assign- 
ing appropriating  and  confirming  the  said  seats 
or  pews  when  erected  to  such  of  the  inhabitants 
within  the  Chapelry  as  we  or  our  successors  for 
the  time  being  shall  think  proper. 

Given  under  the  Seal  of  Our  Office 
The  Twenty  sixth  Day  of  May,  In  the  Year 
of  our  Lord  One  thousand  seven  Hundred 
and  Thirty  Eight. 

EDWARD  ROBERTS, 

Deputy  Regr 


CONDITIONS    OF   THE    REBUILDING    OF 
WHITECHAPEL. 

A  copy  of  the  conditions  and  subscriptions 
towards  rebuilding  of  the  Whitechapel,  also  a 
list  of  those  persons  who  subscribed  for  seats  or 
part  of  seats  in  the  said  Chapel.  April  8th,  1738. 

Whereas  the  Whitechapel  in  Goosnargh  being 
in  a  very  ruinous  condition,  also  not  being  suffi- 
ciently large  to  contain  the  people  in  a  decent 
manner  that  resort  thither  to  attend  Divine 
service,  pursuant  to  the  gift  of  £10  from 
Thomas  Adamson  late  of  Goosnargh  towards  the 
enlargement  and  rebuilding  of  the  said  Chapel. 

It  is  agreed  by  the  subscribers  to  give  as  fol- 
lows towards  the  rebuilding  of  the  said  Chapel, 
that  they  thereby  may  be  qualified  to  have  seats 
in  the  new  Chapel,  proportional  to  their  subscrip- 
tions by  lot  or  otherwise ;  also  it  is  agreed  by 


142  GOOSNARGH  : 

the  said  subscribers  that  the  subscription  money 
shall  be  paid  unto  the  responsible  persons  that 
shall  give  bond  unto  the  commissary  or  his 
agent,  for  rebuilding  the  said  Chapel,  in  that 
case  required  before  the  execution  of  the  said 
bond. 

£    s.    D. 

Richard  Shuttleworth 10     o  o 

John  Penny,  Minister i      I  o 

Joseph  Beesley     500 

William  Higham 500 

Henry  Kirby 5     o  o 

Thomas  Parkinson       2   10  o 

Nathaniel  Heal     2   10  o 

Robert  Parkinson 3     3  o 

Rowland  Parkinson     I   17  o 

Christopher  Tomlinson       ...  5     o  o 

John  Parkinson    2  10  o 

John  Fishwick      5     o  o 

John  Sallom 5     o  o 

John  Parkinson    5     5  o 

Charles  Gibson     5     o  o 

John  Lucas 5     o  o 

Thomas  To wnley 5     o  o 

Thomas  Parkinson       5     o  o 

James  Brandwood        5     o  o 

John  Sergeant      5     o  o 

William  Lancaster       5     o  o 

John  Beesley 2  10  o 

Geo.  Green    500 

John  Baines 5     o  o 

John  Wilson 5     o  o 

Chris1:  Oliverson 5     o  o 

James  Bleasdale    500 

Edmund  Eccles  I     o  o 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  143 

£  S.  D. 

Thomas  Singleton        i  o  o 

Christopher  Parkinson        ...      I  o  o 

Thomas  Parkinson       I  2  o 

Richard  Ward      i  o  o 


126     6     o 

N.B. — Thomas  Adamson  gave  ^"40  in  addition 
to  the  £\Q  mentioned  above,  making  his  gift  in 
the  whole  £$o. 

Also  Richard  Shuttleworth  above  said,  gave 
one  bell  to  be  used  at  the  said  Chapel.  Also  the 
Worshipful  William  Strafford,  Commissary,  &c., 
besides  the  £\o  he  gave  towards  the  rebuilding 
of  the  Chapel,  he  also  gave  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Penny,  minister  of  the  said  Chapel  for  the  time 
being,  and  his  successors,  Dr.  Sharp's  Sermons,  7 
vol.  8vo. ;  the  Christian  Institutes  I  vol.  8vo. ;  the 
Sacred  Interpreter  2  vol.  8vo. ;  and  Nourse's 
Homilies,  i  vol.  8vo.,  being  in  all  eleven  volumes, 
most  of  which  are  still  extant. 

An  account  in  what  manner  the  Queen's 
Bounty  was  raised  a  second  time  to  the  White- 
chapel  in  or  about  the  year  1757,  and  a  purchase 
made  of  the  Hill  House  in  Goosnargh,  which 
money  was  raised  as  underwritten. 

£      s.    D. 
By  the  Commissioners  of  the  Queens 

Bounty     ..       200     o     o 

By  the  Trustees  of  the  late  Will1? 

Strafford,  Commisy  Dr.  of  Laws,  &c.  100  o  o 
By  the  Executors  of  Joseph  Beesley 

of  Goosnargh  who  gave  ^"40,  the 

interest  thereof  to  be  paid  yearly 

to  the  Minister  of  the  aforesaid 


144  GOOSNARGH  : 

£       S.      D. 

Whitechapel,  if  he  visited  the  sick 
in  the  Higher  side  of  Goosnargh, 
and  the  principal  was  employed 

this  way 40     o     o 

By  Mr.  Parkinson  of  Clithero 10     o    o 

By  Contributions  obtained  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Penny,  Minister  of  the 
said  Chapel,  with  other  assistants 
that  attended  him  in  Goosnargh,  & 
neighbouring  Townships,  also  in 
Lancaster,  Poulton,  Kirkham,  Pres- 
ton, and  Liverpool 50  o  o 

£400    o    o 

The  substance  of  the  above  is  engraven  on  a 
plain  marble  slab  (which  would-be-improvers 
have  painted  black),  hung  upon  the  wall  opposite 
to  the  reading  desk.  The  inscription  is  as 
follows : — 

A.D.  1756. 

£       S.      D. 

White  Chapel  was  augm<?  *  in  1757 

Lands  purchd  with 400     o    o 

Whereof  Given  by  Q'}   Ann's 

Bounty        200     o     o 

By  Exec?   of  Wm.  Strafford 

L.L.D 100    o    o 

By  other  Benefi5     100     o    o 

The  Lands'  tax  of  the  Three  Estates  was  purch? 

in  1800 
No  76,639. 

*  That  is,  the  "  living  "  was  enlarged. 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  145 

When  the  Chapel  was  re-erected  in  1738,  39,  40, 
the  part  under  the  singing  gallery  was  partitioned 
off  and  set  apart  for  the  school,  and  here  it  was 
that  my  first  school  day  was  spent.  That  school 
room  was  21  ft.  3in.  long  and  9  ft.  wide.  Compare 
this  with  the  dimensions  of  the  present  school 
which  is  not  a  bit  too  large. 

In  the  year  1818  the  Chapel  had  again  become 
too  small  to  accommodate  the  congregation,  and 
was  in  that  year  enlarged  by  adding  I2ft.  6in.  to 
the  east  end.  The  expenses  of  this  enlargement 
were  defrayed  by  the  township  generally,  when 
about  40  free  seats  were  provided  and  accommo- 
dation made  and  licence  granted  by  the  Right 
Rev.  Geo.  Henry  Law,  then  Bishop  of  Chester, 
to  administer  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
therein.  Previous  to  the  granting  of  this  License 
the  Protestant  inhabitants  communicated  at  Goos- 
nargh  Church,  and  the  officiating  minister  of 
Whitechapel  was  required  to  assist  in  the  admin- 
istration of  that  rite  at  Goosnargh  Church  as 
aforesaid. 

Also  in  the  year  1818  the  Chapel  yard  was 
consecrated  and  set  apart  as  a  burial  ground. 

The  following  is  the  register  of  the  first  inter- 
ment that  took  place  at  this  Chapel : — 
Cathrine  Wearing,  Goosnargh, 
July  1 5th,  1818,  aged  64. 

Joseph  Stuart,  Curate  of  Admarsh. 

And  the  following  is  the  first  baptismal  regis- 
ter :— 

Septr.  20th,  1818, 

John,  son  of  James  and  Jane  Monks, 
Goosnargh,  Weaver. 

Richd.  Wilkinson. 


146  GOOSNARGH  : 

The  grandfather  of  the  said  child  is  yet  living 
(1885). 

At  the  same  period  the  belfry  was  enlarged 
and  reconstructed  so  as  to  accommodate  two 
bells,  but  they  yet  tinkle  on  with  one,  and  perhaps 
it  makes  as  good  music  as  two  would  do. 

The  sittings  on  the  ground  floor  of  the  old 
part  of  the  chapel  were  all  appropriated,  and  that 
part  is  calculated  to  accommodate  about  200 
persons. 

The  singing  gallery  contains  an  area  of  191 
feet  and  is  free  to  all. 

The  specification  for  the  rebuilding  of  the 
chapel  is  yet  in  existence,  and  of  the  sittings 
therein  and  the  part  under  the  gallery  thus  re- 
cords : — 

"  The  seats  in  the  gallery  are  designed  for  the 
common  use  of  the  poorer  sort  of  people,  and 
also  the  school-house  is  designed  to  be  laid  open 
to  the  chapel  on  the  Sabbath  day,  if  occasion  for 
room."  This  document  bears  the  date  1738. 

There  is  a  snug  little  vestry  at  the  north-west 
corner  of  the  chapel  made  out  of  a  part  of  the 
old  school-room,  being  an  area  of  72  feet.  In 
the  room  there  is  an  iron  safe  fixed  into  the  wall 
in  which  the  register  books  were  formerly  kept, 
but  the  dampness  of  the  place  nearly  obliterated 
many  of  the  entries,  but  they  were  carefully  and 
neatly  retraced  by  the  diligent  pen  of  the  late 
Incumbent,  the  Rev.  T.  Benn,  and  the  said 
books  are  now  (1885)  snugly  deposited  in  an  iron 
safe  in  the  Vicarage. 

The  old  grave-yard  soon  became  too  small  to 
accommodate  the  funerals  that  took  place  there, 
and  in  the  year  1850  additional  land  was  added 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  147 

towards  this  alteration.  William  Shawe,  Esq., 
of  Preston,  gave  a  couple  of  pounds  and  the  land ; 
the  remainder  of  the  expenses  of  this  enlarge- 
ment were  defrayed  partly  by  subscription  and 
partly  from  the  public  rate.  This  is  just  half  a 
job,  but  half  of  a  good  thing  is  better  than  none. 

This  new  part  of  the  grave-yard  was  conse- 
crated by  the  Right  Rev.  J.  P.  Lee,  Bishop  of 
Manchester,  on  the  I4th  day  of  November,  in  the 
year  1850. 

Previous  to  the  year  1853,  Whitechapel  was 
not  registered  or  licensed  for  the  solemnization 
of  marriages — how  funny  that  the  inhabitants  of 
the  Chapelry  of  the  now-called  Church  of  White- 
chapel  should  have  been  obliged  to  emigrate  to 
get  wed  ! 

On  interrogating  the  late  Incumbent,  Rev.  T. 
Benn,  on  the  reason  of  this  strange  state  of 
things,  he  jocundly  and  good  humouredly  replied 
(i  that  he  would  assure  me  it  was  not  from  any 
scruples  that  existed  in  his  mind  on  the  subject, 
or  propriety  of  the  marriage  covenant,  on  the 
contrary,  he  was  perfectly  ready  to  perpetrate 
a  marriage  (whenever  the  Bishop  would  grant  a 
license  and  the  parishioners  pay  for  it)  on  whom- 
soever he  found  (lawfully)  bent  on  such  a  step, 
but  on  no  one  sooner,  nor  with  a  better  will  than 
on  the  historian  of  Goosnargh." 

In  the  year  1853,  the  Church  of  Whitechapel 
was  licensed  to  accommodate  love-sick  swains 
and  sighing  damsels ;  and  the  first  transaction  of 
this  nature  that  took  place  here,  was  on  the  6th 
of  August,  1854,  upwards  of  a  year  after  the 
license  was  granted. 

J  2 


148  GOOSNARGH  : 

Whitechapel  has  no  architectural  beauties  to 
boast  of,  it  is  a  plain  humble  temple.  Our 
ancestors  evidently  have  had  a  single  eye  to  con- 
venience only,  without  any  regard  whatever  to 
decorations,  and  may  very  properly  be  designated 
the  "useful  style;"  but  if  no  sculptural  orna- 
ment decks  their  church — Built  by  subscription, 
is  a  laurel  in  their  caps,  though  gone  they  are. 

The  masons  work  is  without  date  or  other  in- 
scription, but  on  the  joiners  work  there  is  abund- 
ance, and  from  which  it  appears  that  nearly  the 
whole  of  the  present  fittings  were  put  in  immed- 
iately after  its  restoration.  Several  of  the  pews 
bear  the  date  1739 — the  oldest  found  about  the 
temple. 

The  patrons  of  the  Church  are  the  Dean  and 
Chapter  of  Christ  Church,  Oxford. 

They  formerly  had  a  Parish  Clerk  here,  and  he 
received  £2  IDS.  a  year  for  his  services. 

The  Church  affairs  are  governed  by  two 
Wardens,  one  chosen  by  the  Incumbent  and  the 
other  by  the  inhabitants,  and  the  Church  rates 
are  laid  by  an  open  vestry,  when  any  ratepayer 
may  record  his  vote  against  the  rate — but  few 
take  the  trouble  to  do  so — (of  course  the  rate  is 
now  voluntary). 

Prior  to  the  year  1846,  Whitechapel  was  a 
"  Chapel  of  Ease "  under  Goosnargh  Church, 
and  Goosnargh  tributary  to  Kirkham  ;  but  by  an 
Order  in  Council  bearing  date  January  2ist,  1846, 
theHigher  Division  of  the  Township  of  Goosnargh 
was  constituted  a  parish  for  ecclesiastical  pur- 
poses, and  styled  the  Church  of  Whitechapel,  and 
the  Parish  of  Kirkham  has  no  control  over  the 
Parish  of  Whitechapel,  neither  does  it  pay  tribute 
or  custom  to  any  place  whatever. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  149 

The  dues  of  the  new  Church  of  Whitechapel 
were  formerly  the  same  as  those  at  Goosnargh 
Church,  and  down  to  1852  were  received  by  the 
Incumbent  of  Goosnargh,  inasmuch   as  no  pro- 
vision to  the  contrary  was  made  in  the  Order  in 
Council. 

However  when  the  livings  of  Goosnargh   and 
Whitechapel  were  both  enlarged  from  the  tithes, 
the  dues  of  the  Church    of    Whitechapel    were 
given  to  the  Incumbent  thereof  for  the  time  being. 
The  whole  of  the  minister's  stipend  from  1836 
to  1852  was  derived  from  the  three  estates  of 
land  mentioned  above,  the  rents  of  which  were 
as  follows  :  — 

£ 
Barn's  Fold       ...............  30 

Beesley  Ground        ............   10 

Hill  House        ...     •"      .........  30 


But  in  1852  the  "living"  was  augmented  from 
the  tithes  by  ^50  a  year,  and  in  1853  by  ^30 
more,  in  all  from  the  tithes  ^"80.  Again  see 
tithe  rents. 

Acting  upon  the  adage,  prevention  is  better 
than  cure,  the  Churchwardens  formerly  took  a 
round  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Church  during 
the  hours  of  Divine  Service,  to  see  that  the 
neighbouring  public-houses  were  closed,  and  that 
no  vagabond  fellows  were  strolling  about  in 
the  country,  or  following  any  unnecessary  . 
secular  employment.  But  unfortunately  this 
practice  was  not  so  strictly  adhered  to  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  day  as  in  a  morning  ;  and  this 
laxity  on  the  part  of  the  Church  officials  had  a 


I5O  GOOSNARGH  : 

tendency  to  represent  the  Sabbath  afternoons  of 
a  nature  less  sacred  than  the  morning — hints  to 
idleness  on  the  part  of  rulers  are  soon  taken  ! 
After  the  establishment  of  rural  police  here,  this 
old  custom  fell  into  disuse. 

There  is  a  dial  in  the  Church-yard  which  was 
erected  by  subscription  in  the  year  1745,  and 
cost  £2  os.  8d. 

Inscription  on  the  plate  is  : — 

Lat.  53°  40' 

Vive  memor  Lethi  fugit  hora 
Live,  be  mindful  of  Death,  time  flies. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Penny,  Minr. 
Henry  Porter  of  Westfield,  Fecit  &  Sculp  :  1745. 

There  is  a  common  footpath  through  the 
chapel-yard,  which  I  think  is  hardly  in  accord- 
ance with  the  sacredness  of  the  place,  and  I  hope 
the  worthy  owner  of  the  adjoining  land  will  see 
the  necessity  and  have  the  goodness  to  divert  it 
past  the  N.-W.  corner.* 

Down  to  the  year  1841  the  Church  had  an 
open  roof,  but  during  that  year  it  was  ceiled 
and  the  expenses  defrayed  out  of  the  church 
rate. 

The  only  thing  by  way  of  ornament  or  archi- 
tectural curiosity  about  the  Church  is  the  Com- 
munion Table,  and  certainly  it  is  a  piece  of  nice 
workmanship,  and  contrasts  somewhat  oddly 
with  the  plainness  of  the  fabric  and  the  whole  of 
the  other  fittings;  but  what  adds  most  to  its 
singularity  is  its  having  been  made  by  the  hand 

*  Since  the  above  was  written,  the  desired  alteration  has  been  made. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  !$! 

of  a  former  minister,  the  Rev.  T.  Benn,  and 
bears  his  name,  "T.  Benn"  and  date  "1848," 
and  will  save  his  friends  the  trouble  and  expense 
of  any  other  monument — the  fashion  to  the 
knops  round  the  frame  of  the  table  were  in  vogue 
about  three  centuries  ago.  Altogether  it  is  per- 
haps one  of  the  best  pieces  of  carved  work  in  the 
Chapelry  of  the  Church  of  Whitechapel ! 

In  1855  the  Governors  of  Queen  Anne's  Bounty 
and  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Christ  Church, 
Oxford,  purchased  a  small  estate  of  land  in  the 
immediate  neighbourhood  of  the  Church  called 
Crookall's  I2a.  2r.  2Op.  (tithe  survey)  with  a  view 
of  building  a  parsonage  house  on,  when  the  next 
presentation  was  made,  or  when  one  is  wanted. 

The  purchase  money  of  the  said  estate  was 
^"600,  of  which  Christ  Church  College  paid  ^"400 
and  the  Queen  Anne's  Commissioners  £200. 

In  pursuance  of  the  said  scheme,  in  1880  a 
good  parsonage-house  was  built  with  suitable 
outbuildings  at  the  cost  of  ^"1,150,  and  paid  for 
as  follows : — 

£        S.      D. 

Accumulated  rents  of  "Crookalls" 
by  Incumbents  of  Whitechapel, 
from  1855  to  1880,  and  invested 
(after  deducting  expenses  incurred 
in  repairs  of  buildings)  in  consols 
(from  time  to  time),  producing  ...  565  I  o 

in  hand  of  Queen  Anne's  Bounty, 

being  part  of  endowment  of  living  254  18  4 

Grant  from  Diocesan  Church  Build- 
ing Society  100  o  o 

Grant  from  Dean  and  Chapter  of 

Christ  Church,  Oxford 75  o  o 


152  GOOSNARGH  : 

£       S. 

Private  subscriptions 72   10 

Balance  paid  by  Rev.  E.  D.  Banister 

(Vicar  of  Whitechapel) 82  10 


/i, 150    o     o 

The  population  of  the  Parish  (the  Higher 
Division  of  Goosnargh)  is  about  561.  The  Church 
is  calculated  to  seat  195,  and  now  the  sittings 
are  all  free. 

The  "living"  is  worth  about  ^250,  a  year — the 
fees  are  little  more  than  nominal,  amounting  to 
only  about  ^3  a  year. 

In  1844  Hill  House  and  Barn's  Fold  estates 
were  sold  to  the  Fulwood  Local  Board  for  the 
sum  of  ^"4,000,  which  is  invested  in  three  per 
Cent,  consols. 

The  present  Vicar  is  the  Rev.  Edmund  Dawson 
Banister,  who  was  licensed  to  Whitechapel 
Church  on  the  i6th  day  of  December,  1873,  and 
first  took  duty  on  the  nth  January,  1874. 

INGLE  WHITE    CHAPEL. 

There  is  an  Independent  or  Congregational 
Chapel  at  Inglewhite,  erected  in  the  year  1826, 
and  at  present  in  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  John 
Hargreaves,  who  commenced  his  duties  on  the 
first  Sunday  in  May,  1880. 

The  site  of  the  Chapel  and  the  land  of  which 
the  Chapel-yard  is  formed,  was  bought  (not  given 
as  commonly  reported)  from  the  late  James  Sid- 
greaves,  Esq.,  of  Inglewhite  Lodge,  a  Roman 
Catholic,  for  the  sum  of  eight  pounds,  but  was 
obtained  it  is  said  by  a  sharp  manoeuvre.  A  pre- 


PAST    AND   PRESENT.  153 

tence  being  set  up  and  some  sham  preparations 
made  for  erecting  a  Dissenting  Chapel  near  to 
the  south  entrance  gate  of  Inglewhite  Lodge,  the 
good-natured  but  unsuspecting  gentleman  above- 
named,  in  order  to  obviate  those  religionists 
planting  their  temple  and  propagating  views  so 
diametrically  opposed  to  his  own,  so  near  to  his 
door,  consented  to  sell  the  land  in  question 
— the  plot  the  promoters  of  the  intended  Chapel 
esired. 

The  Independents  or  Congregationalists  first 
held  meetings  in  this  neighbourhood  at  a  cottage 
at  Inglewhite,  occupied  by  John  Lofthouse,  about 
the  year  1820.  John  Birch  of  Lower  Trotter  Hill, 
Goosnargh,  whose  Will  bears  date  3ist  August, 
1816,  and  whose  personal  estate  (the  deceased  had 
no  real  estate)  was  sworn  under  ^"1500,  left  the 
whole  of  his  property  with  the  exception  of  eight 
small  legacies  amounting  to  ^85,  to  three  trus- 
tees namely — Ambrose  Winder,  Jonathan  Kirk- 
ham  and  the  Rev.  David  Edwards,  for  the 
purpose  of  establishing  and  endowing  as  their 
means  afforded  a  Chapel  as  above  at  Inglewhite 
aforesaid.  John  Birch  died  on  the  1st  day  of 
October,  1823  ;  accordingly  in  1826  the  present 
Chapel  was  erected  at  the  cost  of  ^"250  (the 
carting  of  the  materials  probably  was  given),  and 
the  small  farm  at  Lower  Trotter  Hill  and  Moss 
Dale  on  Eccles  Moss  containing  ya.  3r.  28p. 
statute  was  purchased  for  ^"450.  The  trustees 
have  also  purchased  a  cottage  and  garden  in 
Goosnargh  called  Mill  Cottage,  for  the  sum  of 
^"130,  and  another  cottage  and  garden  at  Ingle- 
white contiguous  to  the  Chapel  for  the  modest 
sum  of  ^~55-  They  have  also  expended  con- 


154  GOOSNARGH: 

siderable  sums  in  building  a  barn  on  the  Lower 
Trotter  Hill  Farm  and  in  repairs  of  Trotter  Hill 
House  and  Mill  Cottage,  so  that  John  Birch's 
money  has  not,  as  oft  has  been  the  case,  "mumb- 
led" away.  Towards  augmenting  the  "living" 
of  the  said  Chapel,  Richard  Kirkham,  of  Goos- 
nargh,  by  Will  dated  May  5th,  1870,  left  the 
sum  of  £$oo  to  the  said  Chapel,  and  whose 
death  took  place  on  the  I5th  day  of  June,  1870. 
The  County  Union  formerly  contributed  £20  a 
year  to  the  income  of  this  Chapel,  but  in  conse- 
quence of  dissension  in  the  camp  during  the 
ministry  of  the  late  Mr.  Hacket,  this  contribution 
was  suspended  and  has  never  been  restored. 

The  gross  amount  of  the  emoluments  of  the 
Chapel  stand  about  as  under : — 

£     s.    D. 
Rent  of  Lower  Trotter  Hill       ...     ...  23     o     o 

Rent  of  Mill  Cottage 600 

Rent  of  Inglewhite  Cottage        3     o     o 

Interest  of  /5OO  in  the  hands  of  the 

Preston  Corporation  at  3f  per  cent.   1815     o 

Pew  Rents    14    o     o 

Chapel  Dues  (voluntary)  say      o  15     o 

/65   10    o 

The  Chapel  was  registered  for  marriages  in  the 
year  1878. 

It  appears  that  there  has  been  great  looseness 
in  the  registration  of  baptisms,  burials  and  mar- 
riages, for  the  first  baptism  I  find  recorded  is 
dated  1828;  the  first  burial,  1882;  the  first 
marriage,  1880.  Thanks  for  the  civil  registra- 
tion ! 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  155 

The  temple  is  a  plain  unpretending  looking 
building,  without  date,  and  will  seat  200  persons, 
and  there  is  a  room  attached  to  the  Chapel  used 
as  a  Sunday  School,  supported  by  public  sub- 
scription, and  attended  by  35  children  and  con- 
ducted by  four  teachers. 

In  1827  a  trust  deed  was  executed  by  John 
Birch's  executors,  conveying  the  Chapel  and  the 
Chapel  property  to  16  trustees,  and  in  1884  the 
survivors  of  the  said  16  trustees  conveyed  the 
said  Chapel  and  its  belongings  to  24  trustees, 
their  names  being :  — Thomas  Brewer,  John 
Marsden,  John  Greenall,  Thomas  Standing, 
Robert  Mansergh,  Thomas  Ball,  Roger  Kirkham, 
James  Knowles,  Edward  B.  Dawson,  Edward 
Bryning,  Thomas  Blackburn,  James  Cowpe, 
James  Seed,  Robert  Gardner,  John  Crossley, 
David  Crossley,  Thomas  Evans,  William  Hough, 
George  Hunter,  Ebenezer  Wilson,  William  Par- 
kinson, Thomas  James  Wilkinson,  Richard 
Brash,  and  William  M.  Miller. 

HILL   CHAPEL. 

There  is  a  Roman  Catholic  Chapel  at  Goos- 
nargh  situate  at  the  "  Hill,"  founded  about  the 
middle  of  the  last  century,  rebuilt  in  1802,  and 
enlarged  in  the  year  1835.  Inscribed  in  front 
is  "  Glory  be  to  God  on  high,  MDCCCXXXV."  The 
priest  has  a  good  dwelling-house  attached  to  the 
Chapel,  and  including  the  said  house  the  endow- 
ment will  be  about  as  follows  : — 
Lands,  houses  and  farm  buildings  of 

the  annual  value  of  (which  includes 

an  annual    payment  from  Great 

Westfield  of /5) /6o    o    o 


156  GOOSNARGH: 

Pew  rents  and  other  perquisites  of 

the  Chapel,  about        /2O     o    o 

The  edifice  is  a  plain  but  very  convenient 
building  calculated  to  contain  300  persons,  and 
at  present  under  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Mat- 
thew Brierley. 

Near  the  entrance  to  the  Chapel  is  an  upright 
cross,  and  there  is  a  small  yard  which  has  been 
used  as  a  cemetery  since  the  year  1834,  and  was 
enlarged  in  1880. 

There  is  also  a  room  attached  to  the  Chapel 
in  which  both  a  day  and  Sunday  school  is  kept. 
The  day  school  commenced  in  i  880  and  has  one 
teacher  and  40  scholars.  The  fees  were  2d.  each 
per  week,  and  the  Government  grant  in  1884  was 

/•30. 

The  Sunday  school  was  opened  early  in  the 
nineteenth  century,  and  is  attended  by  30 
scholars. 

This  Chapel  is  licensed  for  the  solemnization  of 
marriages. 

The  baptismal  registers  here  commenced  in 
the  year  1777,  and  the  burial  registers  in  1835, 
and  the  marriage  registers  in  1881.  In  1879 
permission  was  granted  by  the  visiting  justices 
of  the  Whittingham  Asylum  to  bury  patients 
from  that  institution  at  the  Hill  Chapel.  Burial 
fees  to  be  the  same  as  at  Goosnargh,  IDS. 

It  is  probable  that  the  Hill  mission  was  re- 
moved from  Whitehill  (hence  its  name),  the  seat 
of  Madam  Hesketh,  about  the  middle  of  the  last 
century.  Then  there  were  two  priests  of  the 
Franciscan  order  serving  this  mission,  viz. : — the 
Rev.  Mr.  Tootle  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fleet.  They 
were  followed  by  the  Rev.  Charles  Wilcock  who 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  157 

began  the  registers  of  baptisms.  Next  in  order 
were  the  Rev.  Mr.  Martin  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Dinmore. 

On  Hill  Chapel,  Fishwick  says : — 
"  There  is  a  Roman  Catholic  Chapel  at  Goos- 
nargh  called  Hill  Chapel,  which  was 
erected  towards  the  end  of  the  last  century 
in  the  place  of  an  older  one  which  formerly 
stood  near  Whitehill.  There  is  belonging 
to  it  a  house  for  the  priest  and  a  per- 
manent endowment.  The  register  of 
baptisms  which  have  been  solemnized  here 
commenced  about  177°-" 

OLD  CHAPEL  NEAR  DEAN  HOUSE. 

An  old  Roman  chapel  formerly  stood  near 
Dean  House  in  Whittingham  :  it  was  pulled  down 
in  1840.  Over  one  of  the  doors  was  the  following 
inscription  : — 

I.H.S. 
1611  ^  R.I.E.I 

This  was  probably  a  private  chapel,  and  the 
letters  R.I.E.I.  refer  to  the  owners  of  the  place. 
There  was  also  a  wooden  cross  which  was  removed 
to  Hill  Chapel. 

NEWHOUSE    CHAPEL. 

In  the  Hamlet  of  Newsham  there  is  another 
Roman  Catholic  Chapel  called  the  New-House, 
rebuilt  in  the  year  1806,  near  the  site  of  a  more 
ancient  one.  The  building  is  an  unpretending 
but  convenient  temple,  and  is  calculated  to  seat 
292  persons.  Over  the  doorway  is  inscribed : — 

MDCCCVI 

In  hoc  Signo  vinces 
(By  this  Sign  thou  shalt  conquer). 


J58  GOOSNARGH  : 

There  is  an  oft-frequented  grave-yard  attached 
to  the  Chapel,  in  which  is  an  upright  cross,  and 
many  records  of  the  bodies  lying  there.  The 
Rev.  Thomas  Carroll  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  Burial  Registers  commence  in  the  year 
1808.  The  Baptism  Registers  in  1774,  and 
Marriages  in  1855. 

The  Chapel  is  endowed  with  lands  and  build- 
ings situate  in  Newsham. 

The  fee  for  burial  is  2 is.,  for  baptism  and 
marriage  no  fixed  sum. 

Formerly  there  was  a  Sunday  School  in  con- 
nection with  the  Newhouse  Chapel,  supported 
by  voluntary  contributions.  The  school-room 
was  a  neat  little  edifice  and  had  inscribed  on  its 
front : — 

"  Suffer  Children  to  come  to  me." 

LukeCh  1 8  vr.  16. 
Anno  Domino 
1828 

N.B.  The  Dissenters  commenced  Sunday 
Schools  and  the  Protestants  and  Roman  Catholics 
followed  hard  in  the  rear.  Good  example  does 
much  ! 

The  said  school-room  still  exists,  but  is  now 
used  as  a  cottage  only. 

In  1863  a  new  school-room  was  built  by  sub- 
scription, but  is  used  as  a  day-school  only,  and  is 
attended  by  30  scholars ;  the  fees  are  2d.  per  week, 
and  the  government  grant  in  1884  was  ^"22  55. 

On  Newsham  Chapel,  Fishwick  in  his  History 
of  Goosnargh  says : — 

<(  There  is  a  Roman  Catholic  Chapel  dedicated 
to  St.  Mary,  in  Newsham,  which  is  com- 
monly called  Newhouse  Chape!,  and  which 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  159 

is  supposed  to  have  been  erected  early  in 
the  1 8th  century,  for  about  then  the  Rev. 
John  Swarbrick  (a  priest)  gave  instruction 
to  those  he  appointed  to  be  his  executors, 
to  invest  whatever  he  died  possessed  of,  for 
the  purpose  of  supporting  a  priest,  provided 
that  a  chapel  was  built  at  or  near  Midge- 
hall  (Eaves,  Woodplumpton)  where  he 
held  property.  By  a  subsequent  arrange- 
ment the  present  site  was  fixed  upon,  and 
the  chapel  was  then  built  and  dedicated 
to  St.  Lawrence.  The  first  permanent 
resident  priest  was  the  Rev.  John  Carter, 
who  went  to  meet  the  Pretender  when  he 
marched  to  Preston  in  1745.  The  old 
Chapel  was  pulled  down  and  a  new  one 
built  (near  to  where  the  old  one  stood), 
in  1806,  and  a  burial  ground  was  attached, 
about  which  a  warm  correspondence  took 
place  between  the  Rev.  Henry  Carter 
(the  priest),  and  the  Rev.  Joshua  South- 
ward, minister  of  Goosnargh." 

WESLEYAN    CHAPEL. 

Goosnargh    Wesleyan    Chapel    is    situate  in 
Whittingham,  but  close  to  Goosnargh  Village, 
erected  by  subscription   in    1832,    enlarged    in 
1869;  to  which  a  Sunday  School  is  attached, 
supported  by  subscription,  attended  by  2  teachers 
and  1 2  scholars,  on  which  Fish  wick  writes : — 
"  The  Wesleyan  Chapel,  altho'  situate  in  Whit- 
tingham, is  usually  called  the  Goosnargh 
Methodist     Chapel.        The     Wesleyans 
formerly   held    their   meetings  and   ser- 


l6o  GOOSNARGH  : 

vices     at     an     old     building     near     to 

Goosnargh     Church,     which     had    once 

been  used  as  a  cotton  manufactory,  but  in 

1832  a  chapel  was  erected  on  a  plot  of  land 

given  for  that  purpose  and  vested  in    the 

following   trustees,  viz: — Messrs.  George 

Fishwick  (George  Fish  wick  of  Springfield, 

Scorton),     Henry    Threlfall    (Garstang), 

Thomas  Banks,  Robert  Mayor,  Lawrence 

Seed,    Henry    Yates,    William    Preston, 

Henry  Reding,  John  Taylor  Storey,  James 

Molyneaux  and  William  Jenson." 

In  1869  the  Chapel  was  enlarged  by  subscription, 

and  will  seat  150  persons.     The  present  trustees 

are: — Henry  Yates,  Thomas  Wilson  Waterhouse, 

James  Jenson,   John    Jenson,  Thomas    Cornall 

and  Thomas  Jackson. 

GOOSNARGH   SCHOOL. 

Of  the  Goosnargh  Schools,  the  Commissioners 
reported  as  follows : — 

Free  School. 

The  following  is  the  earliest  deed  we  have  been 
able  to  find  relating  to  this  school. 

By  Indenture  dated  the  loth  of  February,  1673, 
reciting  that  the  sum  of  ^"200  thereinafter  men- 
tioned, was  the  money  which  was  recovered  by 
Robert  Midghall  of  Goosnargh,  from  Thomas 
Whittingham,  Esq1:6  then  deceased,  for  and  in 
satisfaction  of  a  messuage  and  tenement  there-to- 
fore  purchased  by  the  said  Thomas  Whittingham 
and  one  Thomas  Beesley,  by  Thomas  Threlfall  of 
Whittingham,  and  by  him  settled  upon  Trustees, 


PAST    AND    PRESENT.  l6l 

for,  and  towards  the  maintenance  and  keeping 
of  a  Schoolmaster  within  the  Township  of  Goos- 
nargh, freely  to  teach,  educate  and  bring  up  all 
the  children  of  the  respective  occupiers  and 
owners  within  the  Townships  of  Goosnargh  and 
Whittingham  in  the  knowledge  and  rudiments 
of  grammar,  and  in  such  other  arts,  sciences  and 
learning  as  were  usually  taught  therewith,  with- 
out receiving  any  money,  reward,  or  other 
satisfaction,  other  than  such  as  should  be  freely 
and  voluntarily  given.  It  is  witnessed  that  Robert 
Richardson,  in  consideration  of  the  said  £200 
conveyed  to  Alexander  Rigby  and  others,  being 
the  Four-and-twenty  men  of  the  Chapelry  of 
Goosnargh,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  a  messuage 
and  tenement  in  Whittingham,  containing  by 
estimation  15  acres  more  or  less,  upon  trust,  to 
permit  such  persons  as  the  Four-and-twenty  men, 
for  the  time  being,  or  the  greater  part  of  them, 
should  from  time  to  time  elect  to  be  schoolmaster 
at  a  free  grammar  school,  to  be  set  up  and  made 
within  100  roods  of  the  Church  or  Chapel  of 
Goosnargh,  within  the  Townships  of  Goosnargh 
or  Whittingham,  to  dwell  and  inhabit  therein, 
and  receive  the  rents  and  profits  of  all  the 
premises  to  his  own  use,  for  so  long  a  time  as 
he  should  be  allowed  to  continue  Schoolmaster 
by  the  approbation  of  the  Four-and-twenty  men, 
or  the  major  part  of  them,  for  the  time  being. 
And  the  said  Four-and-twenty,  for  themselves, 
their  respective  heirs  and  assigns,  promised  and 
agreed  with  each  other,  that  when  there  should 
be  but  four  left,  they  would  at  the  request  of  the 
then  Four-and-twenty,  convey  the  premises  to 
such  persons  as  should  then  be  the  four-and- 
K 


1 62  GOOSNARGH: 

twenty,  or  the  greater  number  of  them,  upon  the 
same  trusts.  Provided  always  that  the  said  four- 
and-twenty,  or  the  greater  number  of  them,  or 
of  the  Feoffees  for  the  time  being,  should  have 
the  placing,  preferring  and  ordering  of  the 
Schoolmaster,  and  should  also  have  the  displacing 
of  the  said  Schoolmaster  if  there  should  appear 
cause,  and  that  the  said  Schoolmaster  should  be 
conformable  to  such  rules  and  directions  as  by 
the  Feoffees,  or  the  greater  number  of  them,  for 
the  time  being,  should  be  declared  and  appointed. 

A  Legacy  of  £20  was  left  to  this  school  by 
the  Will  of  Lawrence  Parkinson,  dated  i-jth 
November,  1719.  This  however  was  in  the  hands 
of  one  Grimbaldeston,  who  failed  about  40  years 
ago,  and  was  entirely  lost. 

The  property  now  belonging  to  the  school 
consists  of  a  farm-house  and  about  12  acres  of 
meadow  and  pasture  land,  let  to  John  Banks,  as 
yearly  tenant,  at  ^40  per  annum,  which  appears 
to  be  a  fair  rent. 

The  master  is  appointed  by  the  four-and-twenty 
of  the  township.  He  is  not  qualified  to  teach 
classics,  though  it  appears  that  this  school  was 
intended  for  that  sort  of  instruction.  He  is  per- 
mitted to  let  the  property  and  receive  the  rents 
from  the  tenants.  It  seems  however  very  desir- 
able that  the  trustees  should  take  this  burden 
upon  themselves.  The  school-house  is  likewise 
used  by  the  master  of  the  free  grammar  school. 

All  the  children  of  the  Chapelry  (which 
includes  Goosnargh  NewshamandWhittingham) 
are  taken  into  these  schools,  and  are  taught 
reading  free  ;  but  for  writing  2/6  a  year  is  paid, 
and  5/-  for  writing  and  accounts.  These  pay- 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  163 

ments  are  received  by  the  master  of  the  free 
school.  There  are  now  about  70  scholars,  boys 
and  girls.  These  are  to  be  considered  as  upon 
this  foundation,  though  the  master  of  the  free 
grammar  school  assists  in  their  instruction. 
There  is  no  residence  for  either  of  the  masters. 


GOOSNARGH    FREE    GRAMMAR    SCHOOL. 

We  have  already  stated  in  our  account  of  the 
charities  of  the  Parish  of  Kirkham  the  history  of 
the  foundation  of  Henry  Colborne's  charities.  In 
pursuance  of  the  decree  of  the  High  Court  of 
Chancery,  dated  the  I2th  June,  1673,  the  par- 
ticulars of  which  we  have  there  stated,  the  Com- 
pany of  Drapers  in  London,  by  indenture  dated 
loth  December,  1673,  settled  a  yearly  rent 
charge  of  ^"105  payable  out  of  certain  premises 
more  particularly  mentioned  in  the  account  of 
Colborne's  charities  to  which  we  have  already 
referred,  whereof  ^"30  was  to  be  paid  for  the 
maintenance  of  a  schoolmaster  and  poor  people 
in  Goosnargh-with-Newsham  and  Whittingham, 
viz.,  £2$  for  the  maintenance  of  a  grammar 
schoolmaster,  an  University  man,  well  and  fitly 
qualified,  and  obliged  to  preach  once  a  month 
within  the  Chapelry  of  Goosnargh-with-News- 
ham and  Whittingham,  and  fit  them  for  the 
University  gratis  ;  and  -£$  residue  of  the  said 
j£~3O,  to  be  disposed  of  and  distributed  yearly 
amongst  the  poor  of  Goosnargh-with-Newsham 
and  Whittingham  ;  and  it  was  by  the  said  inden- 
ture and  decree  provided  that  the  said  school- 
master should  from  time  to  time  and  at  all  times 
thereafter  be  nominated,  placed  and  displaced  by 
K  2 


164  GOOSNARGH: 

the  said  Company  of  Drapers,  and  should  observe 
and  perform  all  such  orders  as  the  said  Company 
should  from  time  to  time  make  for  the  better 
regulating  and  managing  the  said  school,  and 
that  the  school  should  be  kept  in  repair  by  the 
Townships  of  Goosnargh-with-Newsham  and 
Whittingham.* 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  Company  of 
Drapers  ever  made  any  statutes  for  the  govern- 
ment of  this  school,  but  they  have  from  time  to 
time  appointed  a  master,  and  the  payments  above 
mentioned  are  regularly  made. 

The  person  who  now  receives  the  salary  not 
being  competent  to  teach  the  classics  nor  being 
in  holy  orders,  so  as  to  be  able  to  preach  as 
required,  has  been  permitted  by  the  Company  of 
Drapers  to  act  as  a  provisional  master  until  a 
person  shall  be  found  who  is  properly  qualified 
for  the  situation,  according  to  the  directions  of 
the  Court  of  Chancery. 

There  is  a  school  in  the  township  which  is 
repaired  by  the  inhabitants ;  it  consists  of  two 
rooms  with  a  small  yard  adjoining,  and  is  now 
used  as  well  by  the  master  nominated  on  this 
foundation  as  by  the  master  of  the  free  school 
above  mentioned.  The  scholars  are  admitted 
indiscriminately  without  any  reference  to  this 
school  as  a  grammar  school,  and  the  classics  are 
not  taught  in  it.  The  master  of  this  foundation 
acts  merely  as  an  assistant  to  the  master  of  the 
Free  School. 

*  It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  that  the  donor  of  the  school  sensibly 
enough  ordered  that  the  school-room  should  be  kept  in  repair  by  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Chapelry  of  Goosnargh,  which  reasonable  command 
was  complied  with  for  the  long  period  of  150  years,  but  singular  enough 
(to  those  who  have  not  been  behind  the  scenes)  the  repairs  of  the  school 
for  15  years  were  thrown  upon  the  masters. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  165 

GOOSNARGH   BOYS'    SCHOOL,    1885. 

No.  of  scholars  on  books    62 

Average  attendance    49'5 

Fees      ...     ...     /25  2     4 

Master's  salary,  including  house  and 

garden  (£10) 100  2     4 

Scale  of  Scholars'  Fees. 

s.    D. 

Standards  5  and  6,  each  scholar  per  quarter  3     8 
Standards  3  and  4,         ,,  ,,  ,,  2     9 

Standards  I  and  2,         „  ,,  „  i    10 

For  any  number  above  two  of  the  same  family 
a  reduction  of  one  shilling  each  scholar  per 
quarter. 

C.  R.  JACSON,  Chairman. 
W.  P.  PARK,  Hon.  Sec. 

GOVERNORS  :    Rev.  Charles  O.  Gordon,  Charles 
R.  Jacson,  Rev.  E.  D.  Banister,   Robert  Jem- 
son,  Richard  Cookson,  John  Cookson,  Richard 
Butler,  and  Hugh  Blundell. 
Great  changes  have  taken  place  in  the  state  of 
these  schools  since  the  Commissioners  made  their 
report,  the  principal  of  which  may  be  stated  as 
follows : — 

In  the  year  1834,  Mr.Rd.Oliverson,  of  Portland 
Place,  London,  but  formerly  of  Goosnargh,  pur- 
chased from  Mr.  David  Nuttall,  863  yards  of 
land  for  the  sum  of  ^"13,  situate  on  the  north 
side  of  Goosnargh  Lane,  near  to  Goos- 
nargh Church,  with  a  view  of  erecting  a 
dwelling-house  thereon,  the  same  to  be 
applied  at  some  future  time  for  the  benefit  of 
some  one  or  other  of  the  Goosnargh  Schools. 
In  1835  a  house  was  accordingly  erected  on  the 


1 66  GOOSNARGH  : 

said  plot  of  land  at  the  cost  (including  the  land 
as  above)  of  ^"305. 

Goosnargh  School  in  1852  had  not  yet  re- 
ceived any  benefit  from  the  said  house  and  land; 
soon  after  the  erection  of  the  house  the  premises 
were  let  to  Mrs.  Harriet  Milner,  for  the  nominal 
sum  of  ^"3  per  annum,  Mr.  Oliverson  keeping 
the  said  premises  in  repair.  But  previous  to  the 
death  of  the  said  Mr.  Richard  Oliverson,  which 
took  place  on  the  28th  day  of  February,  1852,  he 
had  given  directions  for  the  said  house  and  pre- 
mises to  be  put  in  repair  and  conveyed  to  trus- 
tees for  the  use  or  benefit  of  the  master  of  the 
Free  School  for  the  time  being,  and  the  said 
directions  were  carried  out  by  the  trustees  and 
devisees  (Messrs.  Thomas  and  Robert  Oliverson) 
under  the  Will  of  the  said  Mr.  Richard  Oliver- 
son. 

In  1839,  the  old  School-house  being  in  a  very 
ruinous  and  dilapidated  state,  was  taken  down, 
and  a  new  and  handsome  School-house  (consist- 
ing of  two  rooms  on  the  gound  floor,  one  for  boys 
and  the  other  for  girls,  with  a  room  over  the 
girls'  school  for  a  library)  was  erected  at  the  sole 
expense  of  the  said  Mr.  Richard  Oliverson,  on  the 
old  and  adjoining  plot  of  ground  (half  a  customary 
acre)  given  by  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Christ 
Church,  Oxford,  and  Thos.  Clifton,  Esq.,  their 
lessee.  The  cost  of  the  erection  of  the  school 
was  £8 1 8  6s.  3d. 

Soon  after  the  erection  of  the  said  school,  it 
was  found  to  be  too  small,  and  in  1845  it  was  en- 
larged at  the  expense  of  the  said  Mr.  Richd. 
Oliverson,  the  cost  of  the  enlargement  including 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  167 

fittings  was  ^239  33.  3d.,  making  the  total  cost 
of  the  erection  of  the  school  ^"1,057  95.  6d. 

A  tablet  at  the  south  end  of  the  school  thus 
records : — 

Erected  at  the  expense  of  R.  Oliverson,  Esq., 
of  London,  and  formerly  of  this  Parish. 
MDCCCXXXIX. 

The  government,  perquisites,  and  mastership 
of  the  school  were  the  same  as  stated  in  the 
above  report  up  to  the  time  when  it  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Government.  There  were  formerly 
two  masters  of  the  school,  one  of  whom  was 
appointed  by  the  twenty-four  vestry  men  of  the 
Chapelry,  and  his  emoluments  arose  from  the 
rent  of  an  estate  of  land  in  Whittingham,  let  for 
^~37  a  year;  the  plot  of  land  above-mentioned, 
which  is  worth  £2  a  year;  and  two-thirds  of  the 
perquisites  of  the  school,  amounting  to  about 
£\  I  per  annum.  And  the  other  master  was 
appointed  by  the  Drapers'  Company,  and  re- 
ceived £2$  a  year  from  them,  and  one-third  of 
the  said  perqusites,  say  £$  IDS.  per  annum. 


GOOSNARGH    GIRLS      SCHOOL. 

Previous  to  the  year  1840,  no  provision  had 
been  made  in  the  schools  for  the  instruction  of 
girls  in  needlework,  and  the  said  Mr.  Oliverson 
thought  it  desirable  to  solicit  donations  from  the 
owners  and  occupiers  of  property  within  the 
Chapelry  and  others,  to  be  appropriated  towards 
the  establishment  of  a  Girls'  School.  An  appeal 
was  therefore  made  to  the  country  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  was  responded  to  as  follows : — 


1 68  GOOSNARGH  : 

DONATIONS. 

£  S.  D. 

The    Dean    and    Chapter    of    Christ 

Church,  Oxford  50  o  o 

Christopher  Oliverson,  Goosnargh  ...  10  10  o 

Richard  Oliverson,  London  10  10  o 

Thomas  Oliverson,  London  ...  ...  10  10  o 

Robert  Oliverson,  London 52  TO  o 

Miss  Agnes  Oliverson,  Goosnargh  ...  10  10  o 
Messrs.  Oliverson,  Denby,  and  Levie, 

London  10  10  o 

George  Jacson,  Barton  21  o  o 

William  Shawe,  Preston  10  o  o 

Miss  Shawe,  Preston 3  3  o 

Robert  Snell,  Leyland 500 

John  Abraham,  Preston  5  o  o 

James  Pedder,  Preston  5  5  o 

Rev.  Dr.  Webber,  Dean  of  Ripon  ...  5  5  o 
The  Trustees  under  the  Will  of  the 

late  Henry  Parker,  Whittingham...  10  o  o 

Trustees  of  Goosnargh  Hospital  ...  21  o  o 

Mrs.  Cross,  Red  Scar 10  o  o 

Richard  Pilkington,  Preston  5  o  o 

Philip  Park,  Preston 5  5  o 

Thomas  Clifton,  exclusive  of  his  gift  in 

the  land  (Lytham) 800 

Rev.  Robert  Studholme,  Goosnargh...  550 

John  Graham,  Goosnargh 5  5  o 

James  Blanchard 5  o  o 

Miss  Mary  Atherton,  Clifton  5  o  o 

Edward  Grimshaw,  Preston  5  o  o 

Richard  Arrowsmith,  Preston i  o  o 

Richard  Newsham,  Preston  3  o  o 

Charles  Swainson,  Preston 10  o  o 

Richard  Parkinson,  Preston  I  o  o 


PAST  AND  PRESENT.  169 

£  S.     D. 

Grimshaw,  Preston       5  °     ° 

Charles  Lorimer,  London 10  o    o 


Stirling  ^324     8     o 

Producing  ,^371  133.  3d.  consols;  to  which  sum 
the  said  Mr.  Richd.  Oliverson  added  ^561  i8s. 
Stirling,  making  ^"628  6s.  gd.  consols;  or  a  total 
of  consols  of  ^~i,ooo. 

In  pursuance  of  this  a  Girls'  School  was  estab- 
lished in  the  year  1841  in  the  room  above  alluded 
to,  and  the  said  sum  of  £  1000  was  permanently 
invested  in  the  three  per  cents,  in  the  names 
of  the  trustees  of  the  school,  namely,  the 
Rev.  R.  Studholme,  Mr.  C.  Oliverson,  Mr.  Wm. 
Shawe,  Mr.  Wm.  James  Garnett,  Mr.  John 
Abraham,  Mr.  Charles  Roger  Jacson,  and  Mr.  P. 
Park  ;  the  interest  whereof  to  be  applied  for  and 
towards  the  maintenance  of  a  schoolmistress  of 
the  Goosnargh  Girls'  School  for  the  time  being. 
All  the  girls  of  the  Townships  of  Goosnargh  and 
Whittingham  are  on  application  admitted  into 
the  school  (but  it  is  a  Church  of  England  school) 
and  the  Roman  Catholics  are  permitted  to  attend 
on  sufferance  only.  The  children  are  taught 
reading  free,  but  are  charged  one  penny  a  week 
for  knitting  and  sewing,  and  a  gratuity  is  ex- 
pected for  fire  money.  Out  of  those  charges  the 
trustees  pay  for  the  cleaning  and  repairing  of  the 
school  and  supply  the  scholars  with  all  necessary 
reading  books.  The  girls  who  attend  this  school 
and  are  desirous  to  learn  writing,  are  sent  twice 
a  day  to  the  masters'  school,  and  are  charged 
2s.  6d.  per  annum. 


170  GOOSNARGH  : 

RULES  OF  GOOSNARGH  GIRLS'  SCHOOL,  184!. 

1.  The  hours  of  daily  attendance  are  from  9 
o'clock  in  the  morning  till  12  at  noon,  and  in  the 
afternoon  from  I    o'clock  till  4  from  the  2gth 
of  September  to  the  25th  March,  when  the  school 
begins  to  open  at  1-30  and  closes  at  4-30  until 
the  29th  September. 

2.  Reading,  knitting,  plain  sewing  and  marking 
are  taught  in  the  school. 

3.  Reading  is  taught  free,  the  other  branches 
mentioned  in  Rule  2nd  are  charged  one  penny 
per  week,  which  is  to  be  paid  in  advance,  on  the 
first  morning  in  each  week  of  attendance. 

4.  No  child  can   be  admitted  into  the  school 
under  four  years  of  age. 

5.  The  privileges  of  the  school  are  strictly  con- 
fined to  the  inhabitants  of  this  parish  ;  children 
not  being  in  this  parish  and  attending  the  school 
must  pay  4d.  each  week. 

6.  Any  girls  who  wish  to  learn  to  write  or  be 
taught  accounts,  are  to  attend  the  master's  school 
at  such  stated  times  in  the  morning  and  afternoon 
as  the  mistress  may  appoint. 

In  1 880  this  school  was  placed  under  Govern- 
ment inspection,  and  the  trustees  are  Rev.  C.  O. 
Gordon,  C.  R.  Jacson,  Esq.,  Rev.  R.  Robinson, 
Richard  Oliverson,  Esq.,  and  Wm.  P.  Park. 

In  1884  there  were  60  children  on  the  books, 
the  average  attendance  being  39.  Government 
grant  ^36  9s. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT. 

Schoolmistress's  Salary. 

£  s.  D. 

House  and  garden      ......     10  o  o 

Endowment        .........     30  o  o 

Half  of  the  grant       ......      18  4  6 

School  pence      .........     18  i  i 


5     7 


THE    LIBRARY,    1841-1851. 


The  library  room  has  been  alluded  to.  In 
1841  Mr.  Richard  Oliverson  contributed  ^~5  to 
the  Tract  Society  and  ^*5  to  the  Society  for  Pro- 
moting Christian  Knowledge,  in  consequence  of 
which  each  of  those  societies  furnished  him  with 
£$  worth  of  books  for  the  use  of  the  Goosnargh 
School  Lending  Library.  In  the  year  1851  Mr. 
Oliverson  added  (from  his  own  library)  to  the 
above  about  400  volumes  of  valuable  books,  the 
cost  price  of  which  would  not  be  less  than  ^"200. 
Most  of  the  books  are  lent  out  to  any  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Goosnargh  and  Whittingham  on  the 
payment  of  nominal  charges,  and  the  others  are 
kept  in  the  library  as  books  of  reference  only. 
All  the  Sunday  school  teachers  can  make  use  of 
the  books  (subject  to  the  rules  of  the  library) 
without  any  charge  whatever.  Such  was  the 
case  thirty  years  ago,  and  the  books  are  yet  there, 
but  alas  ! 

THE    HOUSE    FOR   THE    SCHOOLMISTRESS. 

In  1850  Mr.  Oliverson  purchased  809  yards  of 
land  from  the  trustees  of  Goosnargh  Hospital  for 


172  GOOSNARGH: 

the  sum  of  ^"13 ;  this  plot  of  land  adjoins  to  the 
land  on  which  the  master's  house  is  erected.  In 
the  following  year  (1851)  he  erected  a  dwelling- 
house  on  this  plot  of  land,  for  the  use  or  benefit 
of  the  mistress  of  the  Goosnargh  Girls'  School 
for  the  time  being.  The  total  cost,  exclusive  of 
the  land,  being  ^"312  us.  yd.  At  the  time  of 
Mr.  Oliverson's  death  this  house  was  scarcely 
completed,  and  the  trust  deed  was  unexecuted, 
but  his  trustees  carried  out  his  intention  herein 
named,  and  had  the  house  and  premises  conveyed 
to  the  trustees  of  the  Girls'  School  for  the  pur- 
pose named. 


BOOK    MONEY. 

About  12  months  previous  to  the  death  of  the 
said  Mr.  Richard  Oliverson,  he  proposed  to  invest 
^"50  in  the  three  per  cents.,  the  yearly  interest 
whereof  to  be  applied  in  purchasing  reading 
books  for  the  use  of  the  scholars  of  the  Masters' 
Free  School.  A  memorandum  to  this  effect 
having  been  found,  his  trustees  carried  out  his 
intentions  by  depositing  ^50  in  the  Preston 
Savings'  Bank  in  the  names  of  the  trustees  of 
the  Goosnargh  School  Houses. 

Notwithstanding  all  those  princely  donations, 
Mr.  Oliverson  had  but  a  very  small  interest  in 
the  Chapel ry  of  Goosnargh  as  a  landed  proprie- 
tor. Paying  a  tribute  of  gratitude  for  the  edu- 
cation he  received  at  Goosnargh  School  alone 
actuated  his  munificent  gifts,  which  may  be 
summed  up  as  follows  : — 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  173 

£  S.  D. 

Erection  of  the  Master's  house      ...     305  o  o 

Erection  of  the  Schools 1057  9  6 

Paid  towards  the  endowment  of  the 

Girls' School 561  18  o 

First  gift  for  books 10  o  o 

Second  gift  of  books        25  o  o 

Erection  of  Schoolmistress' house...     325  o  o 

Book  money     50  o  o 


4~2334  19     i 
When  will  Goosnargh  know  the  like  again  ? 

WHITECHAPEL     SCHOOL. 

From  an  old  manuscript  belonging  to  this 
township,  I  find  the  following  account  of  the 
endowment  of  Whitechapel  School. 

The  feoffees  for  the  time  being  of  William 
Higham  made  a  purchase  of  the  "  Brook  House," 
in  Goosnargh,  in  the  year  1735,  and  the  cash 
was  raised  as  follows,  as  by  the  purchase  deeds 
appears : — 

£      s.    D. 

By  the  Feoffees  of  William  Higham  160     o     o 
By  the  Executors  of  Thomas  Adam- 
son,  of  Goosnargh  ...     ..• 40     o     o 

By  the  Feoffees  of  William  Lancas- 
ter, of  Goosnargh,  linen  weaver, 
whose  will  bears  date  I2th  Octo- 
ber, 1705,  being  the  first  pious  and 
charitable  gift  to  the  White-chapel 
or  School  that  the  Inhabitants  of 
Goosnargh  hath  knowledge  of  ...  40  o  o 

^240     o     o 


I  74  GOOSNARGH  : 

The  Commissioners  report  of  Whitechapel 
School  as  follows  : — 

William  Lancaster  by  will,  dated  I2th  Octo- 
ber, 1705,  devised  to  James  Fishwick,  William 
Higham,  Thomas  Adamson,  and  Robert  Eccles, 
a  piece  of  land  called  the  Fell  Slack  in  Goos- 
nargh  containing  three  acres  which  he  held  by 
lease  for  the  life  of  one  John  Lancaster  upon 
trust,  to  permit  the  said  John  Lancaster  to  enjoy 
the  same,  he  paying  to  the  said  trustees  the  sum 
of  £6.  He  also  devised  to  the  said  persons  and 
their  heirs,  a  barn  and  16  acres  of  land  in  Goos- 
nargh  upon  the  trusts  thereafter  mentioned  but 
with  power  to  sell  the  same  and  to  employ  the  pro- 
ceeds to  the  same  uses.  He  also  bequeathed  the 
residue  of  his  goods  and  chattels  to  the  same  per- 
sons upon  the  trusts  thereafter  mentioned,  and  he 
directed  that  the  residue  of  such  real  and  per- 
sonal estate,  after  the  payment  of  his  debts  and 
funeral  expenses,  should  be  employed  and  put 
forth  at  the  discretion  of  his  trustees,  and  the 
yearly  profits  paid  to  such  schoolmaster  as  should 
be  elected  by  the  said  trustees,  to  teach  a  school 
at  Whitechapel  in  Goosnargh,  the  said  trustees 
having  a  reasonable  allowance  for  the  manage- 
ment of  the  trusts.  The  clear  profits  to  be  paid 
to  the  said  schoolmaster  half-yearly,  by  equal 
portions  on  the  2nd  August  and  2nd  February  ; 
and  he  directed  that  when  any  two  of  the  said 
trustees  should  be  dead,  the  survivors  should 
elect  two  more  to  make  up  the  number  four,  of 
the  most  substantial  honest  reputed  Protestants, 
inhabitants  of  the  Township  of  Goosnargh. 

The  above-named  William  Higham,  by  Will 
dated  I7th  February,  1713,  devised  a  messuage, 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  175 

barn,  and  outbuildings,  with  several  closes, 
called  Hiles  Fields,  and  Beesley  Ground,  with 
other  closes  in  Goosnargh,  containing  23  acres, 
more  or  less,  to  the  said  James  Fishwick  and 
Thomas  Adam  son  and  two  others  and  their 
heirs  ;  and  he  also  bequeathed  to  the  same 
persons  the  residue  of  his  personal  estate,  after 
payment  of  certain  legacies  to  the  charitable 
uses  thereinafter  named ;  and  he  directed  that  the 
said  trustees  after  the  payment  of  his  debts, 
legacies,  and  funeral  expenses,  should  put  out 
to  interest  by  way  of  purchase  or  mortgage  as 
they  should  think  fit  the  sum  of  ^"120,  and  that 
they  should  pay  the  clear  profits  thereof  half- 
yearly  or  quarterly,  to  such  schoolmaster  as  they 
should  elect  to  teach  the  children  of  any  of  the 
inhabitants  within  the  Township  of  Goosnargh  ; 
said  that  such  power  of  election  should  remain  to 
them  and  their  successors  for  ever ;  and  that  the 
said  schoolmaster  should  demand  no  other  fee  or 
gratuity  from  the  parents  of  such  children  but 
what  they  should  be  pleased  to  give  him  ;  and 
that  the  said  schoolmaster  should  teach  the  said 
school  at  the  Whitechapel,  in  Goosnargh,  or 
within  100  roods  of  the  same;  and  in  case  the 
school  should  be  removed  (by  way  of  prevention), 
that  the  said  profits  should  be  paid  to  the  poor 
of  Goosnargh,  according  to  the  discretion  of  his 
trustees. 

He  also  directed  the  said  trustees  to  put  forth 
£20  in  like  manner,  the  profits  thereof  to  be 
employed  in  buying  necessary  books  for  the 
poorer  sort  of  children  that  should  come  to  learn 
at  the  said  school,  according  to  their  discretion. 

And  he  further  directed  them  to  put  out  in  like 


176  GOOSNARGH  : 

manner  ^~6o,  the  profits  thereof  to  be  paid 
to  some  honest  clergyman  in  priest's  or  deacon's 
orders,  who  should  preach  constantly  at  the 
Whitechapel  every  Sunday  once  and  teach  the 
said  school  for  the  salary  belonging  thereto ;  and 
for  want  of  such  a  clergyman  as  would  supply 
both  places,  he  gave  the  profits  thereof  to  the 
minister  of  Goosnargh  and  his  successors,  upon 
condition  that  he  should  preach  a  sermon  in 
the  said  chapel  on  one  Sunday  every  calendar 
month  ;  and  upon  his  refusal,  that  it  should  be 
paid  to  the  next  neighbouring  clergyman  who 
should  accept  the  same,  performing  the  service 
last  mentioned;  and  for  want  of  such  service 
that  they  should  pay  the  profits  to  the  school- 
master of  the  said  school. 

And  he  directed  that  his  said  trustees  should 
put  forth  in  like  manner  the  residue  of  his  real 
and  personal  estate,  the  yearly  profits  thereof  to 
be  yearly  distributed  and  paid  unto  [This  is  left 
blank  in  the  indenture  of  the  1st  June,  1821, 
from  the  recitals  in  which  the  above  abtract  is 
taken]  at  the  Whitechapel  on  Good  Friday, 
allowing  to  the  trustees  the  reasonable  charges 
for  their  trouble  in  the  execution  of  all  their 
several  trusts  out  of  the  last-mentioned  re- 
mainders ;  and  he  directed  that  when  any  two  of 
the  said  trustees  should  die,  the  survivors  should 
elect  others  to  make  up  the  number  four ;  and 
for  want  of  such  election,  that  the  Twenty-four 
should  choose  four  substantial  inhabitants, 
not  being  exempted  from  making  choice  among 
themselves. 

The  said  Thomas  Adamson  by  will  dated  7th 
January,  1730,  bequeathed  to  the  trustees 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  177 

appointed  for  the  said  Whitechapel  School,  £40, 
the  interest  whereof  he  gave  to  the  teaching 
schoolmaster  of  Whitechapel,  if  he  should  duly 
observe  the  school,  carefully  teach  the  children, 
and  be  diligent  therein,  according  to  the  judg- 
ment of  the  said  trustees. 

By  indenture  of  lease  and  release,  dated  2nd 
and  3rd  May,  1735,  as  the  same  is  recited  in  the 
indenture  of  1st  June,  1821,  hereafter  abstracted, 
reciting  the  will  of  the  said  William  Lancaster, 
and  that  his  real  and  personal  estate  produced 
the  sum  of  ^"40;  and  reciting  the  will  of  William 
Higham,  and  that  the  trustees  had  received 
out  of  his  real  and  personal  estate  the  sum  of 
jfi6o;  and  also  reciting  the  will  of  the  said 
Thomas  Adamson.  It  was  witnessed  that  in  con- 
sideration of  the  ^240  (the  amount  of  the  legacies 
received  as  above  mentioned),  John  Turner  con- 
veyed to  James  Fishwick  and  three  others,  the 
then  trustees,  and  their  heirs,  a  messuage,  with 
the  lands  meadows  and  grounds  thereto  belong- 
ing, in  Goosnargh,  containing  by  estimation  five 
acres,  more  or  less  ;  and  also  another  messuage, 
with  the  lands  meadows  and  grounds  thereto 
belonging,  in  Goosnargh,  containing  by  estima- 
tion five  acres,  more  or  less,  upon  trust,  to  dispose 
of  the  rents  and  profits  to  such  persons  as  should 
from  time  to  time,  for  ever  thereafter  be  legally 
nominated  and  appointed  to  receive  the  same, 
according  to  the  true  intent  of  the  respective 
wills  thereinbefore  recited,  according  to  the  pro- 
portion of  the  several  sums  of  money  threin- 
before  mentioned,  to  be  advanced  out  of 
the  several  charities,  as  the  consideration  or  pur- 
chase money  of  the  above  mentioned  premises. 

L 


178  GOOSNARGH  : 

By  indenture  dated  1st  June,  1821,  reciting  the 
several  wills  and  the  indentures  above  mentioned 
(and  from  which  the  above  abstracts  are  taken)  ; 
and  reciting  that  the  premises  were  then  vested 
in  the  co-heiresses  of  Richard  Baines,  the  last 
surviving  trustee,  and  that  the  said  co-heiresses, 
together  with  James  Dixon  and  others,  had  levied 
a  fine  of  the  premises  above  mentioned  on  the 
24th  March  then  preceding.  In  the  Court  of 
Lancaster  it  was  declared  that  the  said  fine  was 
levied  to  the  use  of  John  Baines,  Henry  Parker, 
Christopher  Oliverson  the  younger,  and  Robert 
Miller,  all  of  Goosnargh,  their  heirs  and  assigns, 
upon  the  trusts  declared  in  the  several  wills  above 
recited ;  and  it  was  further  agreed  that  a  meeting 
of  the  said  trustees  shonld  be  holden  on  the  first 
day  of  June  in  every  year,  at  the  school  house,  at 
which  meeting  they  should  take  into  consider- 
ation the  state  and  condition  of  the  said  trusts 
and  property,  and  the  application  thereof,  and 
should  audit  and  examine  the  accounts,  and  give 
necessary  orders  for  repairs,  and  should  also 
inquire  into  and  examine  the  number  and  pro- 
ficiency of  the  scholars,  and  the  care  and  diligence 
of  the  masters,  and  should  give  such  orders  as 
they  should  see  proper  for  effecting  the  charitable 
intentions  of  the  testator. 

There  is  a  building  erected  for  the  purpose  of 
a  school  near  Whitechapel,  which  is  a  chapel-of- 
ease,  in  Goosnargh,  having  no  peculiar  district 
assigned  to  it.  There  is  no  residence  for  the 
master. 

The  property  purchased  in  1735  consists  of  a 
good  house,  and  about  i2a.  or.  2p.  of  land,  cus- 
tomary measure,  of  seven  yards  to  the  perch,  and 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  179 

I 

about  i  a.  or.  21  p.  of  moss.  The  former  is  now 
let  to  the  acting  overseer,  for  the  use  of  the  Town- 
ship of  Goosnargh,  upon  an  agreement  from  year 
to  year,  at  the  rent  of  ^"40  ;  this  is  the  full  value, 
and  the  highest  rent  offered  at  the  time  of  the 
letting,  which  was  by  tender.  The  moss  is  let 
to  Matthew  Miller,  as  yearly  tenant,  at_^~i  IDS. 

Out  of  these  rents  there  is  paid  to  the  school- 
master IDS.  a  week  during  the  time  the  school  is 
kept  open,  that  is  for  46  weeks  in  the  year, 
amounting  to  ^"23.  The  rest  of  the  rent  has 
been  reserved  lately  for  defraying  the  expenses 
of  preparing  the  last  trust  deeds,  which  amounted 
to  upwards  of  £60 ;  a  considerable  expense 
having  been  incurred  in  consequence  of  the  trust 
having  devolved  upon  five  co-heiresses,  all  of 
whom  are  married.  Only  ^"28  had  been  paid  off 
in  September,  1823. 

The  present  master  was  appointed  in  August, 
1822.  He  is  not  a  clergyman  nor  competent  to 
teach  the  classics ;  he  takes  all  the  children  of 
Goosnargh  who  apply,  and  teaches  reading, 
writing  and  accounts,  without  making  any 
charge  except  for  pens  and  paper.  There  are 
now  about  70  children,  boys  and  girls,  in  the 
school.  In  the  time  of  the  late  master  there 
were  only  about  seven*  on  the  books.  It  appears 

*  The  trustee  who  made  this  statement  to  the  commissioners  was  an 
embittered  and  most  implacable  enemy  of  "  the  late  master,"  and  took 
this  opportunity  of  casting  a  slur  upon  him,  to  give  colour  as  he  thought, 
to  his  most  unjust  and  inhuman  conduct  towards  him.  It  is  possible  that 
there  may  have  been  a  day  during  the  late  mastership  of  Whitechapel 
School  when  "  there  were  only  about  seven  "  scholars  in  attendance,  but  it 
must  have  been  on  some  extraordinary  occasion,  for  it  is  quite  certain  that 
he  had  generally  a  very  full  school,  and  could  often  number  from  So  to  90 
scholars  in  actual  attendance.  I  was  one  of  his  pupils,  and  though  gone 
I  will  give  him  credit  for  being  the  best  master  I  ever  had  ;  and  though  I 
was  only  ten  years  of  age  when  he  died,  I  have  him  to  thank  for  being 
L  2 


1 80  GOOSNARGH  : 

from  an  entry  in  an  old  book  belonging  to  this 
township  that  £20  (the  legacy  left  by  William 
Higham,  for  buying  books  as  above  mentioned) 
was  laid  out  in  1720  in  the  purchase  of  land, 
together  with  ^"200  given  by  Queen  Ann's 
Bounty,  and  other  money,  for  the  augmentation 
of  the  curacy  of  Whitechapel.  For  many  years 
the  trustees  of  the  school  received  a  proportion- 
able part  of  the  rent  in  respect  of  the  £20  laid 
out  in  the  purchase,  but  for  the  last  six  or  seven 
years  the  incumbent  has  refused  to  pay  more 
than  2Os. 

During  a  discussion  which  has  taken  place  on 
this  subject,  nothing  has  in  fact  been  paid,  but 
the  incumbent  is  ready  to  pay  2Os.  a  year.  The 
deeds  at  the  office  of  Queen  Ann's  Bounty  have 
been  inspected  on  the  part  of  the  township,  and 
it  is  now  admitted  that  205.  a  year  only  is  pay- 
able in  respect  of  this  charity.  The  said  203.  a 
year  is  regularly  paid  by  the  vicar  and  employed 
in  buying  books  for  the  use  of  the  said  school. 
But  one  pound  in  1713  is  not  the  same  as  one 
pound  in  1885. 

Much  has  been  done  to  this  charity  since  the 
commissioners  made  their  report  thereon.  A 
good  commodious  and  convenient  dwelling-house 
has  been  erected  near  to  the  school-room,  for  the 
use  of  the  schoolmaster  for  the  time  being.  It 
was  built  in  the  year  1834  by  Mr.  Thomas  Oli- 
verson,  of  Frederick's  Place,  Old  Jewry,  London. 
The  cost  of  the  erection  was  upwards  of  ^"300. 
The  land  on  which  the  house  was  erected  was 

able  to  write  this  book,  and  I  am  fully  persuaded  that  had  he  survived  and 
held  the  same  situation  until  I  was  18  years  old,  the  public  would  have 
been  favoured  in  this  production  with  a  much  abler  work.  I  pity 
the  poor  schoolmasters  that  have  enemies  for  trustees  ! 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  l8l 

given  by  Mr.  Peter  Lawrenson,  of  Goosnargh. 
The  following  is  the  record  of  the  said  gift : — 

<(  Messrs.  John  Baines,  Henry  Parker,  and 
Christopher  Oliverson,  Gentlemen. — 
Having  been  informed  that  it  is  your 
intention  to  erect  a  house  for  the  master 
of  the  school  at  Whitechapel  in  the  town- 
ship, which  is  to  be  attached  to  the  pro- 
perty of  the  said  school,  as  a  dwelling 
house.  I  hereby  give  you  full  permission 
to  occupy  the  piece  of  land  as  road  waste 
adjoining  to  my  lands  in  that  situation 
for  that  purpose  ;  and  I  relinquish  to  you 
for  ever  my  right  and  all  my  interest  in 
the  same,  as  long  as  it  is  used  and  held  in 
this  manner,  and  to  your  successors  as 
trustees  of  the  said  school. 

As  witness  my  hand, 
this  third  day  of  November,  1832, 

P.  LAWRENSON." 

In  1843,  the  schoolroom,  though  built  so  late 
as  1811,  had  become  too  small,  and  was  in  a  sad, 
battered,  and  shattered  condition,  was  taken 
down  and  a  new  substantial  and  very  convenient 
school  erected  on  the  site  ot  the  old  one.  The 
materials  were  carted  by  the  farmers  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  school,  and  the  building 
was  erected  by  public  subscription  ;  but  I  regret 
to  say  I  have  been  unable  to  meet  with  the  par- 
ticulars of  the  subscription  list.  Those  matters 
appear  to  have  been  more  permanently  registered 
100  years  ago  than  at  the  present  day. 


1 82  GOOSNARGH  : 

On  the  stones  of  the  school  we  read  : — 
This  School  was  Rebuilt  by 

Subscription  A.D.  1843. 

Rev.  Thos.  Benn,  C.  Oliverson,  Esq. )  T 
John  Baines,  Esq.,  Wm.  Shawe,  Esq.  J    J 

The  scholars  of  the  day  school  now  number 
about  60,  and  the  fees  are  as  follows : — 

Farmers  rated  at  -£20  a  year  and  upwards,  for 
children  in  standards  I  and  2,  is.  lod. ; 
standard  3,  2s.  gd. ;  standards  4,  5,  and  6, 
33.  8d.  per  quarter. 

Farmers  rated  undergo  and  labourers,  for  chil- 
dren in  standards  I  and  2,  is.  4^d. ;  standard  3, 
2s.  3^d. ;  standards  4,  5,  and  6,  2s.  gd.  per  quarter. 

The  master's  salary  is  variable,  but  may  be  put 
down  at  about  £100  a  year. 

A  Sunday  school  was  established  here  by  the 
Rev.  T.  Benn  about  the  year  1825.  There  are 
50  scholars  and  four  teachers. 

By  the  help  of  the  S.  P.  C.  K.  a  lending 
library  has  been  attached  to  the  said  Sunday 
school  and  contains  about  130  volumes. 

The  present  trustees  are  : — Richard  Oliverson, 
Charles  Roger  Jacson,  Townley  Rigby  Knowles, 
and  William  Lucas  Benn. 

ALL    THE    OTHER    PUBLIC    CHARITIES    OF 
GOOSNARGH    AND    NEWSHAM. 

Lawrence  Parkinson's   Charity. 

Lawrence  Parkinson,  by  will,  dated  iyth 
November,  1719,  devised  and  bequeathed  to 
James  Fishwick,  Richard  Midghall,  and  two 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  183 

others,  and  their  heirs  as  feoffes  in  trust,  among 
other  things,  two  closes  in  Goosnargh,  called  the 
Three-nooked  Meadow  and  Old  Alice  Meadow, 
and  the  sum  of^~7O,  for  the  use  of  the  poor  needy 
necessitous  housekeepers  in  Goosnargh  that 
should  have  no  relief  or  allowance  out  of  the 
township,  the  rents  and  profits  of  the  said  land 
to  be  disposed  of  by  the  said  trustees  and  their 
heirs,  and  distributed  at  Martinmas  or  there- 
abouts, yearly,  in  coin  called  groats,  to  such 
housekeepers  as  aforesaid,  according  to  their  dis- 
cretion. 

He  also  bequeathed  the  sum  0^30,  the  interest 
to  be  laid  out  and  distributed  in  six  good  penny 
manchets  every  Sunday,  by  the  minister,  church- 
wardens, and  clerk  of  Goosnargh,  to  such  poor 
housekeepers  and  needy  people  of  Goosnargh  as 
should  have  no  allowance  out  of  the  township 
and  should  attend  Divine  Service  that  very  day ; 
and  in  case  the  people  of  Goosnargh  should  not 
come  to  the  Church,  then  in  like  manner  to  the 
people  of  Whittingham  who  should  come  to 
Divine  Service  there ;  and  for  want  of  such  like 
poor  of  Goosnargh  and  Whittingham,  to  the 
poor  of  any  other  parish  or  township  that  should 
attend  Divine  Service  there  ;  and  he  directed  that 
the  remaining  43.  should  be  paid  to  such  person 
as  should  buy,  carry,  and  procure  such  manchets 
weekly.* 

*  The  said  Lawrence  Parkinson  also  left  by  the  said  will  a  dole,  to  be 
given  at  his  funeral,  upon  such  St.  Chrysostom  thus  remarks  : — "  Doles 
were  used  at  funerals  to  procure  rest  to  the  soul  of  the  deceased,  that  he 
might  find  his  Judge  propitious."  The  giving  of  a  dole  and  the  inviting 
of  the  poor  on  this  occasion  are  synonymous  terms.  There  are  some  strong 
figurative  expressions  on  this  subject  in  Ambrose's  Funeral  Oration  on 
Satyrus.  Speaking  of  those  who  mourned  on  the  occasion,  he  says  : — 
"  The  poor  also  shed  tears,  precious  and  fruitful  tears,  that  washed  away 
the  sins  of  the  deceased  ;  they  let  fall  floods  of  redeeming  tears." 


184  GOOSNARGH: 

By  indenture  dated  26th  June,  1747,  Thomas 
Parkinson  and  Alice  his  wife,  and  Charles  Gib- 
son and  others,  to  whom  a  fine  had  been  levied 
of  the  premises  hereafter  mentioned,  conveyed 
the  same  in  consideration  of  £100  to  Robert 
Porter  and  John  Porter  and  their  heirs. 

By  indenture  dated  2nd  January,  1747-8,  re- 
citing that  Thomas  Parkinson  and  the  other 
parties  above-mentioned,  had  conveyed  the  pre- 
mises thereafter  mentioned,  to  Robert  Porter 
and  John  Porter  in  consideration  ol^ioo,  which 
sum  was  paid  by  them  out  of  monies  in  their 
hands  for  charitable  uses,  the  said  Robert  Porter 
and  John  Porter  conveyed  to  the  use  of  them- 
selves, and  of  George  Green  and  John  Baines, 
their  heirs  and  assigns,  a  messuage  and  two  acres 
of  land  with  the  appurtances  in  Goosnargh, 
upon  trust,  to  apply  the  clear  yearly  rents  as  fol- 
lows, viz. :  The  sum  of  6d.  a  week  to  the  minister, 
churchwardens,  and  clerk  of  the  parochial  Chapel 
of  Goosnargh,  to  be  by  them  laid  out  in  six  good 
penny  loaves  of  bread,  called  manchets,  to  be 
distributed  in  the  manner  above-mentioned  in 
the  will  of  Lawrence  Parkinson,  and  upon  trust 
to  lay  out  two-third  parts  of  the  residue  of  the 
said  rents  in  coin  called  groats,  in  the  same 
manner  as  directed  by  the  said  testator  with  respect 
to  the  profits  of  the  two  closes  in  Goosnargh  and 
the  sum  of  ^"70;  to  apply  the  remaining  third 
part  of  the  said  residue  amongst  poor  people 
belonging  to  the  said  Township  of  Goosnargh, 
on  every  St.  Thomas'  Day,  pursuant  to  the 
several  charitable  donations  given  to  the  said 
township  for  that  purpose. 

On  the  above  abstracted  indenture  is  endorsed 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  185 

a  memorandum  : — That  whereas  it  was  intended 
that  about  one-third  part  of  the  ^"100  should 
have  been  paid  out  of  the  money  belonging  to 
the  poor,  it  happened  that  such  poor's  money 
could  not  be  got  in  time,  but  that  £20  belong- 
ing to  William  Wareing's  Charity,  then  in  Par- 
kinson's hands,  was  applied  instead  thereof,  and 
was  to  have  its  dividend  of  the  rent  yearly 
arising  from  the  said  premises. 

From  this  memorandum  it  appears  that  some 
part  of  the  legacies  left  for  these  charities  must 
have  been  lost. 

By  indenture  dated  ist  September,  1798,  re- 
citing the  indenture  last  above  abstracted,  James 
Baines,  the  heir-at-law  of  the  last  surviving 
trustee,  conveyed,  the  same  premises  upon  the 
same  trusts  to  Richard  Oliverson  t  (since 
deceased),  Matthew  Miller,  John  Sharpies,  and 
Christopher  Oliverson  and  their  heirs.  These  pre- 
mises are  now  vested  in  three  surviving  trustees 
named  in  the  deed  of  1798,  and  the  two  closes 
devised  by  Lawrence  Parkinson,  called  the  Three- 
nooked  Meadow  and  Old  Alice  Meadow  lie  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  each  other,  the  former 
containing  one  acre  and  a  half,  and  is  let  to  John 
Barton  as  yearly  tenant  at  ^"4,  which  is  the  full 
value  of  it. 

The  premises  purchased  in  1747,  and  called 
Kirk  Smithy  House,  with  the  two  acres  adjoining, 
and  Old  Alice  Meadow,  containing  two  acres,  are 
let  to  Richard  Stothert  upon  an  agreement  for 
seven  years,  of  which  three  are  unexpired,  at  the 
rent  of  ^"17.  This  is  the  full  value. 

t  Father  of  the  Richard  Oliverson  of  whom    so  much  has  been  said 
herein. 


1 86  GOOSNARGH  : 

Of  these  rents,  amounting  to  £2 1 — 263.  is  dis- 
posed of  in  purchasing  six  pennyworth  of  bread 
weekly,  which  is  distributed  by  the  minister, 
churchwardens,  and  clerk  amongst  the  poor  who 
attend  Goosnargh  Chapel ;  out  of  the  residue, 
us.  6d.  is  added  to  the  dole  money,  which  is 
distributed  the  day  before  St.  Thomas'  Day  to 
the  poor  of  the  Township  of  Goosnargh,  and  the 
remainder  is  laid  out  by  Matthew  Miller  in  the 
purchase  of  meal,  which  is  distributed  in 
February,  yearly,  at  the  workhouse,  amongst 
poor  housekeepers  of  the  said  township  who  have 
no  relief.  Notice  is  always  previously  given  to 
the  Protestant  and  Roman  Catholic  Chapels  in 
the  township. 

In  February,  1823,  thirteen  loads  of  meal, 
weighing  24olbs.  each,  which  cost^iS  133.  gd., 
were  distributed  amongst  165  persons  of  the  des- 
cription above  -  mentioned.  As  Mr.  Miller 
purchases  the  meal  wholesale,  he  never  bought 
less  than  a  load,  and  if  there  is  any  balance  it  is 
paid  to  the  Overseers  who  buy  a  small  quantity 
of  meal  according  to  the  sum  they  receive, 
and  distribute  in  like  manner. 

Lawrence  Parkinson  also  bequeathed  to  his 
said  trustees  ^"80,  upon  trust,  to  pay  the  interest 
of  one  moiety  thereof  in  case  his  daughter  Alice 
Mary  should  die  without  issue,  in  buying  books 
or  clothes  for  poor  children  or  old  people  of 
Goosnargh. 

It  is  not  known  whether  this  charity  ever  took 
effect  or  not. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT.  187 

WILLIAM  WAKING'S  CHARITY. 

William  Waring,  of  Goosnargh,  by  will  dated 
I4th  February,  1728,  bequeathed  all  his  personal 
estate  whatsoever  (amounting  according  to  his 
computation  to  ^"300  and  upwards)  to  Thomas 
Edmundson  and  Robert  Porter,  of  Goosnargh, 
upon  trust,  in  case  his  son  should  die  unmarried 
and  without  child  or  children,  to  apply  the 
residue  thereof,  after  payment  of  three  several 
sums  of  ^"5,  to  the  use,  benefit,  and  advantage  of 
the  poor,  indignent,  and  necessitous  inhabitants 
of  Goosnargh,  in  such  way  and  manner  as  to 
them,  and  the  survivors  of  them  his  ex- 
ecutors and  administrators,  should  seem  best 
and  most  beneficial,  yet  so  as  not  in  any 
wise  to  ease  themselves  or  any  other  the  in- 
habitants of  Goosnargh  aforesaid  in  their  rates 
to  the  poor. 

It  is  understood  that  the  personal  estate  of  the 
testator  originally  exceeded  ^"300,  and  we  have 
already  stated  that  £20  part  thereof,  was  laid 
out  with  the  legacies  of  Lawrence  Parkinson  ; 
^"300  was  the  amount  in  1795,  at  which  time,  hav- 
ing been  previously  lent  out  on  private  security,  it 
was  called  in,  and  was  lent  to  the  landowners  of  the 
township  of  Goosnargh  for  the  purpose  of  build- 
ing a  workhouse  on  Inglewhite  Green  ;  and  a 
bond  was  drawn  up,  signed  by  several  of  the 
landowners  as  a  security. 

The  sum  of  £\2  123.  is  annually  paid  out  of 
the  poor  rates  as  interest  for  this  sum,  a  part  of 
it  is  given  away  in  linen  and  woollen  cloth  to 
poor  persons  of  the  township  not  receiving  relief, 
and  the  remainder  is  distributed  in  money  at  the 


1  88  GOOSNARGH: 

same  time.     The  sum  given  in  cloth  varies  from 


ADAMSONS  CHARITY. 

Jane  Adamson,  of  Goosnargh,  by  will  dated 
8th  September,  1732,  ordered  that  the  sum  of 
^"40,  together  with  £20  which  her  brother 
Thomas  Adamson  gave  to  poor  and  indigent 
persons  of  Goosnargh,  should  be  placed  at  interest 
by  the  executors,  and  that  the  produce  of  the 
said  two  sums  should  be  laid  out  yearly  by  her 
executors  and  their  successors,  at  or  about  Mar- 
tinmas, in  cloths,  linen  or  woollen,  at  the  discre- 
tion of  her  executors,  for  the  poor  belonging  to 
the  Township  of  Goosnargh,  as  they  should  deem 
meet  and  convenient  ;  and  appointed  James 
Taylor,  Robert  Taylor,  and  William  Fox,  all  of 
Goosnargh,  her  executors.  The  sum  of  £60  was 
in  the  hands  of  the  grandfather  of  James  Sid- 
greaves,  Esq.,  who  now  pays  £2  145.  annually 
in  respect  thereof.  He  states  that  his  father  and 
grandfather  used  to  pay  the  same  sum  ;  that  he 
took  some  real  estates  under  the  will  of  his  father 
who  died  in  1  808,  but  no  personal  property  ; 
but  that  though  he  conceives  the  estate  is  not 
legally  charged  with  the  payment,  he  considers 
himself  bound  to  pay  it. 

This  sum  of  £2  145.  is  laid  out  annually  by 
Matthew  Miller,  of  Goosnargh,  at  the  request 
of  Mr.  Sidgreaves,  in  the  purchase  of  linen  and 
woollen  cloth,  which  is  distributed  amongst  poor 
persons  of  the  township  not  receiving  relief. 

The  list  of  persons  who  partake  of  this  charity 
is  always  shown  to  Mr.  Sidgreaves. 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  189 

DONOR    UNKNOWN. 

There  is  also  the  sum  of  ^"40,  the  origin  of 
which  is  unknown,  but  it  is  supposed  to  have 
been  left  by  a  Miss  Eccles  to  the  poor  of  this 
township.  A  few  years  ago  this  money  was  paid 
over  by  Richard  Eccles  in  who?e  hands  it  had 
been  placed,  to  the  governor  of  the  workhouse, 
and  it  was  applied  in  discharge  of  part  of  their 
debt  incurred  in  erecting  that  building.  It  now 
remains  a  charge  upon  the  workhouse,  and  the 
sum  of^i  1 6s.  is  annually  paid  out  of  the  town- 
ship's rates,  and  distributed  with  other  charity 
money  the  day  before  St.  Thomas'-day. 

GRACE  SHAKESHAFT'S  GIFT. 

Grace  Shakeshaft,  by  will  dated  loth  Septem- 
ber, 1740,  directed  her  executors  to  place  at 
interest  upon  some  good  security  ^"60,  and  that 
they  should  apply  the  interest  thereof  yearly,  on 
the  nth  November,  to  such  poor  persons  in  the 
Township  of  Goosnargh  as  they  should  think 
greatest  objects  of  charity.*  It  appears  by  an 
entry  in  one  of  the  township's  books  that  in 
1764  this  legacy  was  reduced  to  ^"40.  This  sum 
with  other  monies  amounting  to  ^"138  IDS.  was 
in  the  hands  of  the  late  Robert  Clifton  who  paid 
interest  for  the  same  till  within  these  two  years, 
when  his  affairs  became  greatly  embarrassed  and 

*  There  is  a  brass  plate  in  Goosnargh  Church  vestry  on  which  is 
engraved  the  following  : — 

"  MEMORANDUM. 

Grace  Shakeshaft,  late  of  Goosnargh-with-Newsham,  died  Janry.  nth, 
1741,  leaving  by  her  will  to  the  poor  of  Goosnargh  aforesd.  the  yearly 
Interest  of  Sixty  Pounds  to  be  distributed  on  the  nth  day  of  November 
yearly,  by  her  Executors,  or  the  Successors  for  ever. 

JNO  :  MILLER,  Sculp.,  1742." 


I  90  GOOSNARGH  : 

his  estates  were  sold,  having  been  mortgaged  for 
nearly  the  full  value.  Mr.  Clifton  is  now  dead, 
and  it  seems  doubtful  whether  there  is  any 
property  out  of  which  this  money  can  be 
recovered. 

MRS.  BARROW'S  GIFT. 

In  one  of  the  township's  books  there  is  an  entry 
made  about  the  year  1764,  stating  that  Mrs. 
Letitia  Barrow  (whose  maiden  name  was  Moore) 
gave  to  the  poor  of  Goosnargh  ^"40. 

This  money  may  possibly  have  been  part  of 
the  sum  of  ^138  IDS.  in  Mr.  Clifton's  hands,  but 
we  could  not  obtain  any  further  information  with 
respect  to  it. 

COLBORNE'S  CHARITY  TO  THE  POOR. 

The  particulars  of  the  charities  founded  by 
Henry  Colborne  have  been  already  given  in  our 
report  of  the  Grammar  School  of  this  Chapelry. 
The  sum  of  ^"5  which  is  to  be  distributed  to  the 
poor  of  this  Chapelry  is  divided  into  three  parts. 

£     s.    D. 

In  the  Township  of  Goosnargh  there  is 
distributed  at  the  workhouse  the  day 
before  St.  Thomas'-day,  with  other 

charities,  the  sum  of 3     3     i 

In  the  Township  of  Whittingham  there 
is  distributed,  with  other  charity 

money,  on  St.  Thomas'-day     i     9     6 

In  the  Township  of  Newsham  the  re- 
mainder is  given  away  to  some  one 
or  more  poor  person o  7  5 

£3     °    ° 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  19! 

KNOWLES'S   CHARITY. 

By  indentures  of  lease  and  release,  the  latter 
dated  8th  February,  1686,  Thomas  Knowles,  of 
Sowerby,  conveyed  to  Evan  Wall,  Thomas  Mil- 
ler, and  two  others,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  a 
messuage  and  certain  lands  thereto  belonging, 
containing  56  acres  or  thereabouts,  called  Loud- 
scales,  with  the  appurtenances,  in  Goosnargh 
and  Chipping,  to  the  use  of  himself  for  life,  and 
his  wife  for  her  life,  with  remainder  to  the  heirs 
of  his  body ;  and  for  want  of  such  heirs  to  the 
use  of  the  said  trustees,  upon  trust,  to  receive 
and  dispose  of  the  yearly  profits  of  the  premises 
in  manner  following,  that  is  to  say  : — 
The  poor  of  Sowerby  Magna  et  Parva  5°s- 

The  poor  of  Inskip      505. 

The  poor  of  Tarnacre 5OS- 

And  the  poor  of  Goosnargh      505. 

And  to  the  said  trustees  for  the  care  and  pains 
therein  the  yearly  sum  of  403.  ;  the  said  pay- 
ments to  the  poor  to  be  made  yearly  on  the  feast 
of  St.  Andrew,  in  such  manner  as  the  said  trustees 
should  seem  most  convenient.  And  he  directed 
that  the  said  trustees  should  yearly  employ  all 
the  residue  of  the  profits,  after  the  payment  of 
the  several  sums  aforesaid,  towards  the  payment 
of  all  such  sums  as  should  be  taxed  upon  the 
premises  to  Church  and  King,  and  for  the  restor- 
ation of  the  said  premises,  without  rendering  any 
account  to  any  person  or  persons  whatsoever  ; 
provided  that  when  any  two  of  the  said  trustees 
should  happen  to  die,  the  survivors  should  assign 
the  premises  to  one  or  more  discreet  person  or 
persons  upon  the  like  trusts. 


192  GOOSXARGH  : 

Previous  to  1778  an  information  was  filed  by 
the  Attorney-General  at  the  relation  of  the  Over- 
seers of  the  several  townships  interested,  in  the 
Court  of  Chancery  for  the  County  Palatine  of 
Lancaster,  setting  forth  the  foundation  of 
this  charity  and  praying  an  account  against  the 
then  trustees  of  the  rents  and  profits  of  the 
premises  belonging  to  the  charity,  which  it  was 
admitted  the  defendants  had  retained  to  their 
own  use  after  payment  of  the  £IQ  a  year 
appointed  by  the  testator ;  whereupon  it  was 
decreed  on  the  ist  of  May,  1782,  that  it  should  be 
referred  to  the  Clerk  of  the  Council  of  that  Court 
to  take  the  account  prayed,  and  that  the  truths 
of  the  indenture  of  the  8th  February,  1686, 
should  be  established,  and  that  the  balance  of 
the  said  account,  when  taken,  after  payment  of 
the  costs,  should  be  applied  towards  the  relief 
of  the  poor  of  the  aforesaid  Townships  of 
Sowerby  Magna  and  Parva,  Inskip,  Tarnacre  and 
Goosnargh,  in  equal  proportions,  and  that  the 
clear  rents  in  future  ought  to  be  applied  in  the 
same  manner. 

By  indenture  of  lease  and  release,  dated  re- 
spectively 4th  and  5th  February,  1783,  reciting 
the  indenture  of  release  above  abstracted,  and  the 
decree  made  on  the  ist  of  May,  1782,  and  further 
reciting  that  the  then  trustees,  John,  Richard, 
and  William  Miller,  had  received  the  rents  and 
profits  of  the  premises  from  the  5th  February, 
1772,  to  the  5th  January,  1782,  amounting  to 
^"500,  of  which  they  had  laid  out  in  repairs  ^"94, 
and  in  distribution  of  the  several  townships  ^~ioo, 
and  had  retained  to  themselves,  in  respect  of  the 
yearly  allowance  of  forty  shillings,  £20,  leaving 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  193 

in  their  hands  ^"286  ;  and  reciting  that  the  costs 
of  the  relations  and  of  Thomas  Knowles,  the  son 
and  heir-at-law  of  the  donor  (which  had  been 
directed  by  the  court  to  be  paid  out  of  the  rents 
of  the  said  premises)  exceeded  the  sum  in  the 
hands  of  the  trustees  by  ^"'40  JOs.  ;  and  further 
reciting,  that  in  order  to  save  the  expenses  of 
proceeding  further  in  the  said  suit,  it  had  been 
agreed  that  the  said  trustees  should  pay  their 
costs,  amounting  to  ^215  IDS.,  upon  their  assign- 
ing the  premises  to  John  Westby  and  others,  the 
sum  of  £286  which  was  in  their  hands,  and  that 
in  order  to  discharge  the  costs  of  the  several 
parties  as  above-mentioned,  the  sum  of  ^356  had 
been  paid  in  equal  portions  by  the  Overseers  of 
the  Townships  of  Sowerby  Magna  et  Parva,  the 
Township  of  Inskip,  the  Township  of  Tarnacre, 
and  the  Township  of  Goosnargh.  It  was 
witnessed  that  for  the  effectual  establishment  of 
the  trusts  of  the  first-recited  indenture  of  release 
and  the  better  management  of  the  said  charities, 
and  in  consideration  of  the  payment  of  ^"246  ios., 
paid  to  the  relations  in  the  said  suit  for  their  costs, 
and  of^iSo  paid  to  the  said  Thomas  Knowles  for 
his  costs,  and  of  ^"215  ios.  to  the  said  trustees  for 
their  costs,  the  said  John,  Richd.,  and  William 
Miller,  with  the  privity  and  by  the  direction  of  the 
said  relations  and  the  said  Thomas  Knowles,  con- 
veyed the  premises  above-mentioned,  to  John 
Westby,  of  Upper  Rawcliffe,  Esq.,  and  three 
others,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  upon  the  trusts  de- 
clared in  the  said  indenture  of  release  of  1 686,  and 
in  pursuance  of  the  said  decree,  it  was  provided  that 
when  any  two  of  the  said  trustees  should  happen 
to  die,  the  survivors  should  convey  the  premises 
M 


194  GOOSNARGH: 

to  two  or  more  discreet  persons,  owners  or  occu- 
piers of  lands  or  tenements  within  the  several 
townships  interested,  or  one  of  them  upon  the 
like  trusts,  and  so  from  time  to  time  for  ever. 

By  indenture  dated  i6th  June,  1801,  John 
Westby,  of  Upper  Rawcliffe-with-Tarnacre,  and 
Henry  Porter,  of  Bretherton,  the  then  surviving 
trustees,  after  reciting  amongst  other  things  the 
indenture  of  release  of  1686,  and  the  decree  of 
May,  1782,  conveyed  the  premises  above- 
mentioned  to  the  use  of  themselves,  and  of  the 
Rev.  Hugh  Hornby,  vicar  of  St.  Michaels,  and 
William  Harrison,  Esq.,  of  Upper  Rawcliffe- 
with-Tarnacre,  to  the  intents  expressed  in  the 
indenture  of  1686,  and  the  said  decree  of  1782. 

The  estate  called  Loudscales  is  situate  partly 
in  Goosnargh  and  partly  in  Chipping,  and  con- 
sists of  a  farm-house  and  outbuildings,  and  553. 
or.  I  op.  of  land  customary  measure,  of  seven 
yards  to  the  perch.  It  is  now  occupied  by  Henry 
Addison  as  yearly  tenant.  Up  to  1812  he  held 
it  upon  a  lease  for  n  years  at  £81  ;  since  that 
time  the  rent  has  varied  from  ^"85  to  ^"115. 
From  the  year  1822  he  took  it  at  the  rent  of 
^85,  but  at  the  time  of  our  inquiry  it  remained 
for  the  consideration  of  the  trustees  whether  an 
abatement  of  -£20  should  not  be  allowed  to  him, 
which  as  it  appears  the  difficulty  of  the  times 
would  fairly  justify. 

After  deducting  what  may  have  been  required 
in  the  course  of  the  year  for  repairs  and  the 
sum  of  £2  which  was  allowed  by  the  donor  to 
the  trustees,  the  residue  of  the  rent  is  divided 
amongst  the  different  places  interested  in  the 
charity  in  the  following  manner  : — 

Goosnargh,  one-fourth. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT.  195 

The  Township  of  Inskip-with-Sowerby,  three- 
eighths. 

Upper  Rawcliffe-with-Tarnacre,  three-eighths. 

The  division  hardly  differs  in  effect  Irom  that 
prescribed  by  the  donor,  as  he  directs  that  one- 
fourth  shall  be  given  to  the  poor  of  Great  and 
Little  Sowerby,  one-fourth  to  the  poor  of  Tarn- 
acre,  one-fourth  to  the  poor  of  Inskip,  and  one- 
fourth  to  the  poor  of  Goosnargh.  The  latter 
being  in  the  Parish  of  Kirkham  and  being  per- 
fectly distinct  from  the  other  places  receives  its 
due  proportion  —  one-fourth  ;  but  Great  and 
Little  Sowerby  lie  in  different  townships,  the 
former  making  one  township  with  Inskip,  the 
latter  making  one  township  with  Upper  Raw- 
cliffe-with-Tarnacre. The  one  fourth  therefore 
which  is  directed  to  be  given  to  the  poor  of  Great 
and  Little  Sowerby  is  divided  equally,  one 
moiety  being  added  to  the  share  of  Inskip,  the 
other  to  the  share  of  Tarnacre,  making  the  share 
paid  to  each  of  those  townships  three-eighths. 
The  Hamlet  however  of  Upper  Rawcliffe  has  in 
fact  no  title  to  this  charity,  though  no  regard  is 
paid  to  this  circumstance  in  the  distribution. 

The  last  year  (1822)  the  rent  was  disposed  of  as 
follows  :  — 

£     s.    D. 

Upper  Rawcliffe-with-Little  Sowerby  23  12     6 
Inskip  and  Great  Sowerby  .........  23  12     6 

Goosnargh    ..................   I5I5     ° 

To  the  four  trustees    ............     200 

Rent  retained  in  expectation  of  abate- 

ment .....................  20     o     o 


M  2 


196  GOOSNARGH  : 

The  share  appropriated  to  each  township  is 
transmitted  to  the  Overseer  or  Churchwarden 
to  be  distributed  amongst  the  poor. 

COLBORNE'S  CHARITIES. 

Henry  Colborne  of  London,  scrivener,  being 
born  in  the  Parish  of  Kirkham  and  there 
educated  in  his  youth,  by  a  codicil  annexed  to  his 
will  dated  the  7th  of  August,  1655,  directed  that 
his  trustees  should  purchase  a  lease  of  the 
Rectory  of  Kirkham,  of  Christ  Church  Oxford, 
with  the  monies  that  he  had  appointed  thereto, 
and  that  the  said  trustees  should  lay  out  the 
profits  that  could  or  might  be  raised  thereout  for 
the  first  16  years  ( excepting  ^~ioo  per  annum  to 
his  son),  to  purchase  lands  to  maintain  schools 
and  poor  people,  and  that  when  they  had  bought 
the  said  lands  they  should  settle  the  same  upon 
the  Company  of  Drapers  in  London  for  the  uses 
aforesaid,  and  that  the  said  trustees  should  have 
£60  per  annum  between  them  while  they  had 
the  same  in  their  hands,  and  the  said  company 
£20  per  annum  for  ever. 

Previous  to  the  year  1673  a  bill  was  filed  in 
the  High  Court  of  Chancery  by  the  church- 
wardens of  Kirkham  against  the  Drapers'  Com- 
pany, in  which  it  was  stated  that  the  trustees 
had  purchased  a  lease  of  the  Rectory  of  Kirk- 
ham, and  (in  pursuance  of  a  decree  made  I4th 
June,  1665,  in  a  suit  instituted  by  the  Company 
of  Drapers  against  the  trustees  and  the  executor  of 
the  testator)  the  proceeds  of  the  said  rectory  had 
been  paid  to  the  said  company,  who  were  to 
account  for  the  same  with  interest  at  the  rate  of 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  1 97 

4  per  cent,  at  the  end  of  1 1  years,  and  to  lay  out 
the  same  in  the  purchase  of  lands  to  be  settled 
upon  the  charitable  uses  mentioned  in  the  said 
codicil,  and  in  regard  to  the  uses  in  the  said 
codicil  mentioned  were  not  particularly  appointed 
to  any  place,  it  was  prayed  that  the  monies  re- 
ceived by  the  said  company  and  the  interest 
might  be  laid  out  in  purchasing  lands  and  in- 
heritance to  be  settled  by  the  decree  of  the  court, 
in  trust,  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  schools  and 
poor  people  of  the  Parish  of  Kirkharn.  The 
defendants  in  their  answer  stated  that  the  tes- 
tator had  declared  his  intention  to  be  that  the 
lands  to  be  purchased  should  be  for  the  mainten- 
ance of  one  or  more  ministers,  who  besides  their 
preaching  would  likewise  overlook  and  take  care 
of  the  scholars  and  the  schools,  and  should  preach 
within  the  Parish  of  Kirkham,  they  set  out  an 
account  of  the  monies  in  their  hands,  and  pro- 
posed to  charge  certain  premises  in  London  with 
the  payment  of  ^105  per  annum  in  respect  there- 
of for  the  charitable  uses  therein  mentioned  ; 
according  to  which,  one-third  of  the  said  rent- 
charge  was  to  be  applied  in  Goosnargh-with- 
Newsham  and  Whittingham,  the  remainder 
two-thirds  in  the  15  townships  of  the  Parish  of 
Kirkham,  and  the  nomination  and  displacing  of 
the  schoolmasters,  teachers  and  ushers,  and  the 
directing  and  appointing  the  number  of  scholars 
to  be  taught  gratis  in  each  school  was  to  belong 
to  the  said  company  for  ever,  but  in  which  they 
were  to  receive  information  and  proposals  from 
the  Thirty  men  of  Kirkham  and  its  townships 
and  the  Twenty-four  of  Goosnargh.  The  plain- 
tiffs in  reply  objected  to  the  appointing  any 


198  GOOSNARGH  : 

part  of  the  said  charities  to  Goosnargh,  the  same 
being  as  they  alleged  no  part  of  the  Parish  of 
Kirkham.  It  was  decreed  however  that  the  said 
Chapelry  of  Goosnargh  was  part  of  the  said 
parish  and  should  participate  in  the  said 
charities,  and  it  was  referred  to  one  of  the 
masters  of  the  court  to  inquire  into  the  propor- 
tion and  extent  of  such  township,  and  to  take  an 
account  of  costs  incurred  by  the  said  company, 
and  to  direct  the  assurances  to  be  made  by  the 
said  company  for  securing  the  payment  of  ^"105 
per  annum  in  such  manner  as  proposed  by  them 
in  their  answer,  and  also  to  apportion  the  said 
sum  between  the  said  Chapelry  of  Goosnargh 
and  the  rest  of  the  said  parish,  to  be  distributed 
in  such  manner  as  the  said  company  had  in  their 
answer  proposed;  and  it  was  further  ordered 
that  the  said  company  and  their  successors 
should  have  power  to  make  orders  for  the  better 
regulating  and  managing  of  the  said  schools. 

By  indenture  dated  loth  of  December,  1673, 
reciting  that  in  pursuance  of  a  decretal  order 
made  in  the  High  Court  of  Chancery  on  the  I2th 
June  preceding,  in  the  above-mentioned  cause, 
and  to  the  intent  that  the  premises  thereafter 
mentioned  might  be  settled  for  the  yearly  sum 
of  ^"105  for  ever,  for  the  maintenance  and  per- 
formance in  accomplishment  of  a  codicil 
annexed  to  the  will  of  Henry  Colborne,  and 
in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  ^2100  re- 
ceived by  the  said  company  out  of  the  Rectory 
of  Kirkham  for  the  purchase  of  lands  for  the  per- 
formance of  the  said  uses,  the  said  company 
had,  by  indentures  of  lease  and  release,  dated  8th 
and  gth  of  December  then  instant,  conveyed  the 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  199 

said  premises  to  Henry  Ashurst  and  Thomas 
Waring,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  upon  the  trusts 
therein  expressed.  It  was  witnessed  that  in 
pursuance  of  the  trust  in  them  reposed,  the 
said  Henry  Ashurst  and  Thomas  Waring  recon- 
veyed  to  the  same  company,  their  successors  and 
assigns,  the  following  premises : — All  that  mess- 
suage  in  the  Parish  of  Allhallovvs,  Honey-lane, 
London,  called  the  Bull  Head  Tavern,  in  the 
tenure  of  Francis  Knight,  Esq. ;  one  other  mes- 
suage in  the  same  parish  in  the  tenure  of  John 
Drigay ;  three  messuages  in  Saint  Michael  Pater- 
noster Parish,  in  the  tenure  of  William  Stanton, 
five  messuages  in  Saint  Swithin's  Lane,  in  the 
tenure  of  Thomas  Mavley;  two  other  messuages  in 
the  said  Parish  of  Saint  Swithin  and  in  the  Parish 
of  Saint  Mary  Abchurch,  in  the  tenure  of  Dr. 
Whitchcott ;  another  messuage  in  the  Parish  of 
Saint  Swithin,  in  the  tenure  of  John  Parry ;  two 
messuages  in  Sherborne  Lane,  in  the  tenure  of 
Mary  Fletcher ;  three  messuages  in  Botolph 
Lane,  in  the  tenure  of  Thomas  Montague  ;  two 
messuages  in  Thomas  Street,  in  the  tenure  of 
Thomas  Gold ;  and  two  messuages  in  Grace- 
church  Street  in  the  tenure  of  James  Hayes,  with 
the  appurtenances ;  upon  trust,  that  the  said 
company  should  from  time  to  time  for  ever,  pay 
and  distribute  out  of  the  rents  and  profits  of  the 
said  premises,  as  the  gift  of  the  said  Henry  Col- 
borne,  the  annual  sum  of  ^105,  without  any 
deduction  or  abatement  thereof  or  any  part 
thereof  (other  than  for  taxes),  by  half-yearly 
payments  on  Lady  Day  and  Michaelmas  Day  in 
every  year  for  ever,  by  equal  portions,  or  within 
40  days  next  ensuing  every  of  the  said  fast  days, 


2OO  GOOSNARGH  : 

being  demanded  at  the  hall  of  the  said  fraternity 
commonly  called  Drapers'  Hall,  London,  which 
said  yearly  sum  of  ^"105  was  to  be  paid  and  dis- 
tributed by  the  said  fraternity  and  their  succes- 
sors for  ever,  by  the  proportions  and  to  the  uses, 
intents  and  purposes  thereinafter  particularly 
mentioned,  that  is  to  say:  ^"7 5  parcel  thereof  for 
the  maintenance  of  schoolmasters  and  poor 
people  in  the  said  Township  of  Kirkham,  and  the 
Townships  of  Greenall-cum-Thistleton,  Eccles- 
ton-cum-Larbeck,  Riby,  Wray,  Hambleton, 
Brining-cum-Kellamer,  Singleton  Magna-cum- 
Parva,  Westby-cum-Plumpton,  Warton,  Freckle- 
ton,  Newton-cum-Scales,  Clifton-cum-Salwick, 
Weeton  -  cum  -  Preise,  Meller  -  cum  -  Wesham, 
Trayles,  Rosikar  and  Wharles,  which  said  several 
townships  were  within  the  said  Parish  of  Kirk- 
ham  in  manner  and  form  following  :  ^45  for  the 
maintenance  of  a  grammar  schoolmaster  at 
Kirkham,  an  university  man,  well  and  fitly  quali- 
fied, and  obliged  to  preach  once  a  month  at  least 
in  the  Parish  Church  of  Kirkham  aforesaid,  or 
in  some  of  the  chapels  belonging  to  the  said 
townships,  and  able  and  obliged  to  instruct  and 
make  fit  the  poor  youths  of  the  said  townships 
for  the  University,  gratis;  £\£>  los.  per  annum 
for  maintenance  of  an  inferior  master  to  teach 
the  poor  boys  of  an  inferior  order,  gratis,  in  the 
said  townships  to  read  and  write  ;  and  £8  per 
annum  for  maintenance  of  an  usher,  to  be 
assistant  to  both  the  said  masters  ;  and  £$  los. 
per  annum  residue  of  the  said  ^"75  to  be  disposed 
of  and  distributed  yearly  amongst  the  poor  of  the 
said  townships  ;  and  the  residue  of  the  said  ^"105 
per  annum  being  ^"30  per  annum,  to  go  and  be 


PAST  AND   PRESENT.  2OI 

distributed  for  the  maintenance  of  a  school- 
master and  poor  people  in  Goosnargh-cum-News- 
ham  and  Whittingham,  being  other  part  of  the 
said  Parish  of  Kirkham  as  followeth,  that  is  to 
say  :  £2^  per  annum  for  maintenance  of  a  gram- 
mar schoolmaster,  an  University  man,  well  and 
fitly  qualified,  and  obliged  to  preach  once  a 
month  at  least  within  the  Chapelry  of  Goosnargh, 
and  able  and  obliged  to  instruct  the  boys  of 
Goosnargh-cum-Newsham  and  Whittingham, 
and  fit  them  tor  the  University,  gratis ;  and  £$ 
per  annum,  residue  of  the  said  ^"30,  to  be  dis- 
posed and  distributed  yearly  to  and  amongst  the 
poor  of  the  said  last-mentioned  townships,  all 
which  schoolmasters  and  ushers  should  from 
time  to  time  and  at  all  times  thereafter  be  nom- 
inated, placed  and  displaced  by  the  said  fraternity 
and  their  successors,  and  observe  and  perform  all 
such  ordinances  and  orders  which  the  said  fra- 
ternity and  their  successors  from  time  to  time 
make  for  the  better  regulating  and  managing  of 
the  said  schools. 

In  the  decree  above  referred  to,  dated  I2th 
June,  1673,  it  was  ordered  that  all  the  proposals 
of  the  said  Drapers'  Company  contained  in  their 
answer  in  the  said  cause,  should  stand  decreed 
in  all  points  according  to  the  contents  thereof, 
the  same  being  adjudged  reasonable  and  best  for 
promoting  the  charitable  uses  intended  by  the 
testator  ;  and  by  reference  to  the  said  answer  it 
appears  that  besides  other  proposals  which  are  in- 
corporated in  the  said  trust  above  alluded  to,  it  was 
proposed  that  the  Townships  of  Kirkham  and  of 
Goosnargh-with-Newsham  and  Whittingham, 
should  respectively  repair  the  schools  in  their 


2O2  GOOSNARGH  : 

townships,  and  that  the  said  company  and  their 
successors  should  have  the  nomination  and  dis- 
placing of  the  schoolmasters,  preachers  and 
ushers,  and  the  directing  and  appointing  the 
number  of  scholars  to  be  taught  gratis  in  each  re- 
spective school,  in  which  they  were  to  receive  in- 
formation and  proposals  from  the  30  men  of 
Kirkham  and  its  townships  and  the  24  men  of 
Goosnargh-with-Newsham  and  Whittingham, 
and  that  they  should  have  power  to  make  orders 
and  ordinances  for  the  government  of  the  said 
schools  which  from  time  to  time  should  be  ob- 
served by  the  masters  and  ushers. 

JOHN  LANCASTER'S  DOLE. 

John  Lancaster  of  Holehouse,  Goosnargh,  and 
son  of  Richard  Lancaster  of  Holehouse,  died  on 
the  3ist  August,  1867,  and  by  his  will  left  the 
sum  of  £t\2  95.  2d.,  the  interest  whereof  to  be 
distributed  every  Christmas  Day  morning  in 
Goosnargh  School  amongst  such  poor  inhabitants 
of  the  Township  of  Goosnargh-with-Newsham 
as  may  have  received  parish  relief  during  the 
year  last  past,  and  who  in  consequence  have 
been  excluded  from  the  doles  of  the  township  to 
such  number  and  such  way  as  the  trustees  thereof 
may  think  fit. 

The  trustees  named  are  Messrs.  William  Lan- 
caster, George  Lancaster,  John  Graham,  Daniel 
Graham  and  Richard  Cookson. 

GOOSNARGH   HOSPITAL. 

William  Bushell,  by  will  dated  2 1st  May, 
1735,  in  case  his  daughter  Elizabeth  should  die 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  2O3 

under  the  age  of  21  years  without  issue,  devised 
all  his  real  estate  whatsoever  (except  certain  lands 
in  Heysham,  which  he  directed  to  be  sold  for  the 
purposes  in  his  said  will  mentioned)  to  William 
Atherton  and  five  others,  their  heirs  and  assigns, 
upon  trust,  to  dispose  of  the  clear  yearly  rents 
and  profits  of  the  said  premises  in  maintaining, 
supporting  and  providing  for  decayed  gentlemen 
or  gentlewomen,  or  persons  of  the  better  rank 
of  both  or  either  sex,  inhabitants  of  the  towns  or 
townships  of  Preston,  Euxton,  Goosnargh,  Whit- 
tingham,  Fulwood  and  Elston,  in  the  County 
of  Lancaster,  being  Protestants,  in  a  house  or 
hospital,  to  be  provided  in  Goosnargh  where  he 
then  resided,  at  or  near  the  dwelling-house  of  his 
late  father  in  Goosnargh ;  and  he  empowered  his 
said  trustees  to  employ  a  competent  part  of  the 
rents  and  profits  of  the  said  premises  in  erecting 
a  convenient  house  or  hospital,  or  making 
additions  to  the  dwelling-house  of  his  late  father 
at  their  discretion,  and  employ  the  same  for  the 
reception  and  entertainment  of  such  decayed  per- 
sons, and  to  appoint  such  officers  and  servants 
and  make  such  rules  and  orders  as  to  them 
should  seem  mete  for  the  good  government 
and  management  of  the  said  house  or  hospital, 
and  the  persons  to  be  placed  therein  who  were 
to  be  elected  by  the  said  trustees,  provided  that 
no  person  being  a  Papist  nor  anyone  who  should 
have  received  any  relief  out  of  the  rates  for  the 
poor  of  the  said  respective  towns  or  townships 
should  be  capable  of  receiving  any  benefit  from 
his  intended  charity,  and  if  any  person  in  the 
said  house  or  hospital  should  become  a  Papist, 
such  person  should  immediately  be  displaced 


2O4  GOOSNARGH  : 

and  turned  out  of  the  said  house  or  hospital,  and 
have  no  further  benefit  from  the  charity  ;  and 
he  further  directed  that  when  any  three  of  the 
said  trustees  should  happen  to  die,  the  survivors 
should  immediately  convey  the  premises  to 
three  other  proper  and  substantial  persons, 
inhabitants  of  Preston,  Elston,  Euxton, 
Goosnargh,  Whittingham  and  Fulwood,  or 
some  of  them,  to  be  by  such  survivors  or 
the  major  part  of  them  chosen  for  that 
purpose,  to  the  use  of  them  and  the  three  sur- 
viving trustees,  their  heirs  and  assigns  upon  the 
like  trusts,  and  so  from  time  to  time  for  ever,  so 
that  there  should  be  always  at  least  three  trus- 
tees ;  and  he  directed  that  no  councillor,  attorney 
or  practicer  of  law  or  Papist  should  ever  be 
appointed  a  trustee  for  the  purposes  aforesaid  ; 
and  he  directed  that  his  trustees  should  have  a 
reasonable  allowance  out  of  his  estate  for  their 
trouble  and  expenses  in  and  about  the  the  execu- 
tion and  performance  of  his  said  will. 

By  indenture  dated  3 1st  October,  1809,  reciting 
the  will  of  the  said  William  Bushell,  and  that 
the  testator  died  about  the  loth  June,  1735,  and 
that  Elizabeth  his  daughter,  died  without  issue 
on  the  7th  July,  1745,  under  theage  of  21  years; 
and  reciting  that  by  indenture  dated  1 5th 
January,  1711,  Alexander  Moore  had  demised  to 
Sarah  Martin  a  messuage  with  the  appurtenances 
in  Goosnargh,  and  two  gardens  for  the  term  of 
2,000  years,  which  had  become  vested  in  the 
father  of  the  said  testator,  who  had  taken  down 
the  old  buildings  and  built  a  convenient  house 
thereon,  and  that  the  said  William  Bushell,  the 
father,  dying  intestate  in  the  lifetime  of  the 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  2O5 

testator,  administration  had  been  granted  to  one 
of  the  trustees  mentioned  in  the  will  of  the  testa- 
tor, and  that  the  trustees  had  converted  such 
dwelling  house  into  an  hospital,  which  was  still 
used  for  that  purpose  ;  and  further  reciting  that 
all  the  lands,  tenements  and  hereditaments  there- 
after mentioned  were  then  vested  in  Robert 
Lytham  of  Euxton,  the  Rev.  Robert  Porter  late 
of  Goosnargh  and  Oskell  Somner  late  of  Eux- 
ton ;  and  that  they  had  chosen  John  Clayton  of 
Euxton,  Septimus  Gorst  of  Preston  and  Joseph 
Hudson  of  Preston  to  be  trustees  with  them.  It 
is  witnessed  that  the  surviving  trustees  conveyed 
to  three  trustees  elected  as  aforesaid  to  the 
use  of  them  and  the  said  survivors,  the  premises 
therein  mentioned.  And  it  is  further  witnessed 
that  they  in  like  manner  assigned  to  the  same 
persons  and  to  the  same  uses  the  leasehold  pre- 
mises, upon  trust,  for  the  several  charitable  uses, 
trusts  and  purposes  declared  in  the  will  of  the 
said  testator. 

The    premises    conveyed   by    the  above   ab- 
stracted indenture  are : — 

1.  The  dwelling-house   and    tenement  called 
Marsh  House,  otherwise  Elston  Hall  in  Elston, 
and   several   closes    therein   named,    containing 
according  to  a  late  survey  93  acres,  2  roods,  1 1 
perches  customary  measure  at  seven  yards  to  the 
perch. 

2.  A   dwelling-house    and     tenement    called 
Salisbury  in  Elston,  and  the  several  closes  there- 
in   named,    containing    19   acres    3   roods    32 
perches. 

3.  Six  several  other  closes  in  Elston  called  the 
Moor  Fields,  containing   i  r   acres,  with  a  small 


206  GOOSNARGH : 

piece  of  land  in  Elston  adjoining  thereto,  on  part 
thereof  was  erected  a  small  wear  for  supplying 
water  to  a  mill  called  Grimsargh  Mill. 

4.  Two  seats  in  the  Chapel  of  Grimsargh  be- 
longing to  the  said  premises  in  Elston. 

5.  A  dwelling-house  and  tenement  called  the 
Spout  House  in  Euxton,  and  the  several  closes 
therein  named,  containing  20  acres  2  roods   17 
perches. 

6.  A  dwelling-house  and  tenement  called  the 
Toy  House,  and  several  closes  therein  named  in 
Euxton,  containing  8  acres  3  roods  23  perches. 

7.  Two  cottages  in  Euxton  adjoining  the  close 
called  Toy  Meadow. 

8.  A  dwelling-house  and  tenement  called  Stan- 
field,  with  the  several  closes  therein  named  in 
Euxton,  containing  41  acres  and  21  perches. 

9.  Two  pews  or  seats  in   Euxton  Chapel  be- 
longing to  the  said  premises  in  Euxton. 

10.  A  close  or  parcel  of  land  in   Goosnargh 
called  Wilkinson  Meadow,  containing  i  acre  and 
30  perches. 

11.  A   dwelling-house    and    tenement   called 
Knowle  House,  and  several  closes  therein  named 
in  Whittingham,  and  two  gardens,  containing  3 
acres  2  roods  and  28  perches. 

j  2.  Two  cottages  in  Whittingham  lately  occu- 
pied as  a  barn  with  the  last  mentioned  premises. 

13.  A  dwelling-house  and  tenement  and  several 
closes  therein  named  in  Whittingham,*  contain- 
ing 12  acres  2  roods  and  39  perches.  (This  house 
is  the  hospital  itself.) 


*  The  hospital  is  in  Goosnargh,  but  within  a  few  yards  of  the  north 
boundary  of  Whittingham. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  207 

14.  A  close  in  Goosnargh  called  the  Moss,  con- 
taining i  acre  i  rood  and  1 2  perches. 

15.  The  east  gallery  in  the  Church  of  Goos- 
nargh. 

1 6.  Several  messuages,  cottages  or  dwelling- 
houses,  gardens  and  orchards  in  Preston,  in  or 
near  a  street  called  Friargate  and  the  Back  Lane, 
demised  to  the  Earl  of  Derby  by  indenture  dated 
1st  May,  1790. 

By  this  indenture  Henry  Porter  and  the  other 
governors  demised  to  the  Earl  of  Derby  the 
several  messuages  and  premises  lying  in  Preston, 
in  a  street  called  the  Friargate  and  the  Back  Lane 
(described  upon  a  map  endorsed  upon  the  trust 
deed)  for  the  term  of  99  years,  from  the  date 
thereof,  at  the  clear  yearly  rent  of  ^"42,  during 
the  last  91  years,  the  first  payment  to  commence 
in  1798  ;  and  the  said  Earl  covenanted  to  build 
one  or  more  good  and  sufficient  dwelling-houses 
upon  the  said  premises,  and  to  lay  out  thereon 
the  sum  of  ^"500  or  upwards,  and  to  keep  the 
premises  in  repair. 

17.  Several  messuages,  cottages,  or  dwelling- 
houses,  shops,  gardens  and  parcels   of  land  in 
Preston,   beginning   on    the   south    side  of  the 
Church  Street,  adjoining   the    west  end  of  the 
Church-yard    and    running    southward  towards 
the  sign  of  the  Hare  and  Hounds,  and  from  thence 
westward  unto  the  old  workhouse,  demised  to 
the  said  Earl  of  Derby,  by  indenture  of  the  same 
date. 

By  this  indenture  Henry  Porter  and  the  other 
governors  of  Goosnargh  Hospital,  demised  to 
Edward  Earl  of  Derby  the  above  mentioned  pre- 
mises, described  upon  the  map  endorsed  upon  the 


2C>8  GOOSNARGH : 

trust  deed,  to  hold  the  same  for  99  years,  to  com- 
mence as  to  the  gardens  and  orchards  from  the 
2nd  February  preceding,  and  as  to  the  messuages 
and  buildings  from  the  day  of  the  date  thereof, 
paying  yearly  during  the  last  91  years  of  the  said 
term,  to  the  said  trustees  ^"70,  at  the  feasts  of 
Pentecost  and  St.  Martin  the  Bishop,  free  from 
all  charges  and  assessments  ;  and  the  said  Earl 
covenanted  to  build  one  or  more  dwelling-houses 
upon  the  said  premises  or  some  part  thereof,  and 
to  lay  out  thereon  £i  500  or  upwards,  and  to 
keep  in  repair  such  buildings  as  should  be  erected 
upon  the  same. 

1 8.  A  close  of  land    called  Causey   Meadow, 
near  Salter  Lane  in  Preston,  containing  together 
with    the   lane   adjoining   2    acres   2  roods  and 
39  perches. 

19.  Another  close  called  Cabbin   Field,   near 
Friargate,  Moor  Lane  in  Preston,  containing  I 
acre  2  roods  and  26  perches. 

20.  Another   close   in    Preston  called    Marsh 
Meadow,  down  Fishergate  Lane,  near  the  River 
Ribble,  containing  r  acre  i  rood  and  12  perches. 
(In  the  prior  trust  deed  in   1763  there  is  added 
here  part  of  another  close  on  the  south  side  of 
Fishergate    Lane,    containing    half   an  acre   or 
thereabouts,    in  the  possession  of  John  Bryers, 
and  two  other  closes  called  the  Sykes,  lying  on 
the  north  side  of  the  north  garden  of  Avenham, 
containing  i  acre  i  rood  of  land  or  thereabouts, 
in  the  possession  of  Michael  Emmet.     The  first- 
mentioned   field    was   sold   in    1802  to  Dr.  St. 
Clare  for  ^"300 ;  it  adjoins  his  house  in  Fisher- 
gate Lane  and  is  now  part  of  his  gardens.    One 
of  the  Syke  fields,  containing  2  roods  16  perches 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  2Og 

customary  measure  was  also  sold  to  William 
Cross,  Esq.,  for  ^~2io,  and  conveyed  to  him  by 
'indenture  of  feoffment,  dated  I3th  September, 
1802.  The  other  Syke  field  is  conveyed  in  the 
trust  deed  of  1 809  by  the  description  of  Lower 
Garden  as  hereinafter  mentioned  (No.  23). 

21.  Another  close  called  the  Town  End  Field, 
at  the  end  of  the  Church  Street  in  Preston,  con- 
taining 3  acres,  2  roods,  21  perches,  part  where- 
of formed  reservoirs  for  water  used  by  Samuel 
Horrocks,  Esq.,  for  manufacturing  purposes,  and 
upon  part  whereof    were  placed  erections  used 
by  him  for  similar  purposes.     (Since  the  date  of 
this  deed,  viz.,   in  1812,  2   roods  and  4  perches, 
part  of  the  field  above-mentioned  was  sold  to 
Samuel  Horrocks,  Esq.,  for  ^"637  125.  8d.,  and  in 
1818,  24  perches,  part  of  the  same  field  were  sold 
to  John  Vose  for  ^"586  TOS. 

22.  Two  other  closes  in  Preston  called  the  Great 
Bull  Field  and  Little  Bull  Field  (part  of  the  last- 
mentioned  field  being  occupied  as  gardens)  on 
the  south  side  of  the  lane  leading  to  Avenham, 
opposite  the  old  poorhouse,  containing  together 

2  acres  3  roods  i  perch. 

23.  A  dwelling-house  in  Preston  called  Aven- 
ham House,  with  the  outbuildings,  gardens  and 
pleasure  walk  thereto   belonging,   containing  i 
rood  24  perches,  and  the  several  closes  therewith 
occupied,  called  the  South  Garden,  containing  2 
acres  16  perches — the  higher  garden  containing 

3  roods  8  perches,  the  lower  garden  containing 
i  acre  29  perches — all  which  premises  were  in 
possession  of  the  representatives  of  Joseph  Myers, 
held  on  lease.     The  lease  above  referred  to  bears 
date  6th  November,  1798.  It  recites  a  former  lease 

N 


2  I O  GOOSNARGH  : 

granted  in  1773  to  Joseph  Myers  of  Preston  for 
three  lives,  with  a  covenant  "that  within  six 
months  after  the  death  of  the  first  life  named, 
the  governors  should  on  application  grant  a  new 
lease  for  the  two  surviving  lives,  and  a  third  life 
to  be  named  subject  to  the  payment  of  the  same 
rent  and  on  the  same  conditions  ; .  and  it  further 
recites  that  one  of  the  said  lives  had  dropped  and 
that  notice  had  been  given  to  the  governors 
within  six  months  after,  and  that  it  had  been 
agreed  to  grant  a  new  lease  upon  the  lives  there- 
after mentioned  upon  the  cancelling  of  the  old 
one  ;  and  it  is  thereby  witnessed  that  Richard 
Latham  and  others  trustees,  in  consideration  of 
^~6o,  demised  to  John  Watson,  John  Myers  and 
William  Myers,  trustees  of  Joseph  Myers  an 
infant,  the  said  house  called  Avenham  House 
and  the  two  fields  and  gardens  thereto  belonging 
in  Preston,  containing  by  estimation  4  acres ; 
and  all  that  close  of  land  called  Browey  Field 
(since  sold  to  the  Lancaster  Canal  Company  as 
after-mentioned),  to  hold  the  same  during  the 
lives  of  William  Myers,  Joseph  Myers  (then  aged 
seventeen)  and  John  Myers  (aged  nine),  at  the 
yearly  rent  of  £26  free  of  all  expense,  with  a 
covenant  to  repair  and  maintain  the  premises 
and  not  to  assign  the  same  without  licence. 
The  premises  demised  by  the  above  indenture 
include  the  close  sold  to  William  Cross,  Esq.,  for 
£210  as  above-mentioned. 

24.  A  parcel  of  land  in  Preston  called  Aven- 
ham Walk,  containing  28  perches,  adjoining  the 
west  side  of  the  south  garden,  in  possession  of 
the  Mayor,  bailiffs  and  burgesses  of  Preston  as 
tenants  thereof. 


PAST    AND   PRESENT.  211 

It  appears  by  the  books  of  the  Corporation 
that  they  agreed  to  take  a  lease  of  the  land  for  a 
•public  walk  in  1697  for  1,000  years,  which  was 
probably  granted,  and  it  is  now  used  for  that 
purpose. 

In  the  prior  trust  deed  of  1767  there  is  here 
inserted  a  close  called  Bowry  Field  situate  at 
Avenham  Brow,  containing  3  roods,  and  demised 
with  the  other  premises  above-mentioned,  in 
trust  for  Joseph  Myers.  This  has  since  been 
purchased  by  the  Lancaster  Canal  Company  for 
the  purposes  of  the  canal,  under  their  powers 
mentioned  in  the  Act  of  Parliament,  for  £227 

I  OS. 

All  the  above-mentioned  premises  are  described 
in  several  plans  endorsed  on  the  said  trust  deed. 

25.  Three  several  pews  in  the  Parish  Church 
of  Preston,  therein  particularly  described. 

Since  the  date  of  this  deed  other  premises  have 
been  purchased  by  the  trustees  which  have  been 
conveyed  to  them  by  the  following  indentures : — 

ist.  By  indenture  dated  3ist  January,  1819, 
Thomas  Parkinson  and  others  conveyed  to 
Robert  Latham  and  the  other  trustees  in  con- 
sideration of  ^"1,025,  a  messuage  and  premises 
containing  27  acres  of  land  in  Goosnargh. 

2nd.  By  indenture  dated  I4th  August,  1819, 
John  Jones  and  others  conveyed  to  the  same 
trustees  in  consideration  of  ^360,  a  messuage, 
garden  and  closes  in  Whittingham  called  The 
Meadows,  containing  i  acre  3  roods  21  perches. 

3rd.  By  indenture  dated  27th  October,  1821. 
Joshua  Southward  and  another  conveyed  to  the 
same  trustees  in  consideration  of  ^550,  a  mes- 
suage, barn  and  two  closes  of  land  in  Whitting- 

N  2 


212  GOOSNARGH  : 

ham,  called  the  Two-near-lane  Fields,  containing 
I  acre  2  roods  27  perches,  and  also  a  close  called 
Grimbaldstone's  Near-lane  Field  in  Whitting- 
ham  aforesaid,  lately  converted  into  two  closes 
containing  I  acre  15  perches. 

The  governors  have  been  enabled  to  make 
these  purchases  by  selling  different  parcels  of 
land  as  above-mentioned  in  the  town  and  neigh- 
bourhood of  Preston.  In  these  transactions  they 
appear  certainly  to  have  exceeded  the  powers  of 
trustees  for  charitable  purposes,  but  they  seem  to 
have  acted  in  every  instance  with  a  view  to  the 
improvement  of  the  charity. 

The  land  described  in  the  abstract  No.  13  to- 
gether with  the  other  premises  marked  Nos.  10 
and  14,  containing  altogether  about  15  acres  2 
roods  15  perches  are  held  by  Ellen  Park,  the 
governess  of  the  Hospital,  who  pays  annually  to 
the  trustees  ^50,  which  is  estimated  as  the  fair 
value  of  the  land.  The  Hospital  itself  and  the 
gallery  in  the  Church  which  is  marked  in  the 
abstract  15,  are  used  by  the  almspeople,  and  no 
rent  is  paid  on  that  account  to  the  trustees. 

The  measure  referred  to  is  that  of  seven  yards 
to  the  perch,  which  is  generally  used  in  this 
neighbourhood.  All  the  lands  appear  to  be  let 
at  fair  rents  and  proper  agreements  are  made 
with  the  tenants  with  respect  to  the  cultivation 
of  the  farms,  but  the  repairs  are  provided  for  by 
the  trustees  out  of  the  income  of  the  charity. 

The  total  amount  of  income  derived  from  all 
the  above-named  premises  is  ^"855  8s.  6d. 

The  premises  included  in  the  leases  to  the  Earl 
of  Derby  appear  also  to  have  been  let  upon  fair 
terms.  Considerable  sums  have  been  laid  out  by 


PAST  AND  PRESENT.  213 

the  lessee  and  his  undertenants  in  building,  and 
it  is  estimated  that  at  the  expiration  of  the 
leases  the  premises  will  let  for  £700  or  ^"800  a 
year. 

The  rent  of  ^"26  which  was  reserved  upon  the 
lease  granted  in  trust  for  Joseph  Myers,  has  been 
reduced  to  £\2  2s.  6d.  on  account  of  the  parcels 
that  have  been  sold  off.  It  is  understood  that 
the  original  lease  was  granted  in  consideration 
of  the  expenses  that  had  been  incurred  in  build- 
ing the  present  house.  The  premises  are  now 
used  as  a  boarding  school  and  are  valued  at  ^"140 
per  annum. 

The  Hospital  about  1 2  years  ago  was  consider- 
ably enlarged,  and  additional  outbuildings  were 
erected  at  an  expense  of  not  less  than  ^~i,ooo;  it 
is  now  a  very  convenient  building  and  in  excel- 
lent repair.  A  governess  is  appointed  by  the 
trustees,  who  with  the  assistance  of  her  son 
undertakes  the  management  of  the  house.  She 
receives  ^"27  for  each  of  the  inmates  of  the 
Hospital,  and  for  that  sum  she  supplies  them 
with  abundant  provision.  They  are  allowed 
wine  when  recommended  by  the  medical  atten- 
dant. Firing  and  washing  are  also  provided  at 
the  expense  of  the  governess. 

There  are  now  13  persons  (men  and  women) 
in  the  Hospital,  and  they  are  supplied  by  the 
trustees  with  every  description  of  clothing  that  is 
needful  for  them  as  often  as  they  require  it,  and 
each  person  is  allowed  los.  a  quarter  as  pocket- 
money  ;  one  of  the  inmates  reads  prayers  daily 
to  the  rest ;  they  all  dine  together  but  have  each  a 
separate  lodging-room,  and  there  is  also  a  hall 
for  the  men  and  one  for  the  women. 


214  GOOSNARGH  : 

These  persons  are  all  advanced  in  life  and  were 
most  of  them  at  the  time  of  their  admittance  of 
the  age  of  60  or  upwards.  No  distinction  is 
made  whether  they  are  single  or  married  pro- 
vided they  are  otherwise  qualified.* 

There  are  at  present  two  married  couples  in 
the  Hospital.  They  are  chosen  from  the  six 
townships  directed  by  the  testator,  but  Preston 
supplies  the  greatest  number.  A  list  of  candi- 
dates is  kept,  and  at  their  quarterly  meetings  the 
trustees  consider  the  merits  of  the  applicants 
and  examine  the  certificates  of  their  characters 
which  are  always  required,  and  if  they  find  a  per- 
son whom  they  think  a  proper  object,  he  is 
admitted. 

There  is  no  limit  as  to  number ;  the  Hospital 
would  accommodate  very  conveniently  several 
more,  and  the  funds  are  at  present  sufficient  for 
one  or  two  more ;  but  though  there  are  at  pre- 
sent about  20  candidates  it  is  stated  that  there  is 
not  one  person  who  is  thought  fit  to  receive  the 
benefit  of  the  chanty. 

The  persons  selected  are  as  strictly  as  possible 
of  the  class  directed  by  the  testator.  No  person 
who  has  received  parochial  relief  is  admitted  or 
who  is  not  a  member  of  the  Church  of  England. 
They  are  required  to  attend  Church,  and  there 
is  a  gallery  built  by  the  trustees  on  purpose  for 
their  use. 

Of  the  furniture  in  the  Hospital,  part  belongs 
to  the  trust  and  part  to  the  inmates  or  to  the 
governess. 

*  The  inmates  of  the  Hospital  are  not  allowed  to  intermarry  with  one 
another.  Surely  that  iron  rule  must  have  been  made  by  some  old 
bachelors  who  never  knew  the  sweets  of  double-blessedness  !  It  is  to  be 
hoped  that  this  needless  and  anti-Christian  yoke  will  'ere  long  be  taken 
off  and  laid  by  in  the  lumber-room  as  a  curious  relic  of  the  dark  ages. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  215 

The  expenditure   on  account  of  this  charity 

from  May  1822  to  May  1823,  which  was  as 
follows,  does  not  differ  materially  from  that  of 
former  years : — 

£     s.  D. 

Board  of  13  inmates  at  ^"27  each    ...   351     o  o 

Pocket  money  IDS.  per  quarter  each     26     o  o 

Clothing      91   ii  o 

Dinner  for  trustees     2  10  8 

,,      for  tenants      14  18  8 

To  three  of  four  trustees  allowances 

for    travelling    expenses — ^"3    35. 

each 9     9  o 

To  two  do.  as  stewards — ^"6  6s.  each     1212  o 

Apothecary's  bill        13     o  n 

Solicitor's  bill     16   14  o 

Insurance  from  fire — Farms    ^"4  us.  ^ 

„  ,,  — Hospital £2  i os.  J     ' 

Repairs  of  Hospital 37   14  8 

Wine  and  spirits        13   n  10 

Repairs  at  Farms       78     i  5 


Mr.  Cussons  is  the  present  governor. 

The  income  of  this  charity  is  now  about 
^"2,096  a  year,  and  the  number  of  inmates  30. 

The  trustees  meet  quarterly  at  Preston.  On 
two  of  these  days  the  tenants  attend  to  pay  their 
rents  and  are  allowed  a  dinner.  At  the  other 
quarterly  meetings  the  trustees  dine  together,  by 
themselves.  At  each  of  the  meetings  the  accounts 
and  vouchers  are  examined  and  the  payments 
are  made;  and  at  the  August  meeting  the  ac- 
counts for  the  year  are  passed. 


216  GOOSNARGH: 

The  two  trustees  who  are  appointed  stewards 
and  receive  an  allowance  of  £6  6s.  each,  look 
over  the  property  and  keep  the  accounts. 

Besides  the  current  expenses  and  the  sum  laid 
out  in  improving  the  Hospital,  the  trustees  have 
expended  about  ^"1,000  in  building  a  farmhouse 
and  barn  upon  the  Spout  House  Estate  in 
Euxton.  This  was  done  under  the  immediate 
inspection  of  two  of  the  trustees  residing  in  the 
township. 

No  money  is  kept  in  the  hands  of  the  trustees. 
All  the  receipts  and  disbursements  are  through 
the  Old  Bank  at  Preston,  and  interest  is  allowed 
at  the  rate  of  three  per  cent,  on  whatever  balance 
may  be  in  hand. 

There  was  a  balance  on  June  3Oth,  1823,  of 
/39i  193.  lod. 

There  was  in  the  hands  of  the  Rev.  Stieynsham 
Master  the  sum  of  ^"1000,  which  arose  from  the 
sale  of  timber  in  Elston  wood,  for  which  he  gave 
a  bond  dated  28th  May,  1804.  The  interest  was 
regularly  paid  up  to  1820,  about  which  period  he 
left  this  country  very  much  in  debt.  A  dividend 
has  since  been  received  from  his  trustees  amount- 
ing to  ^"151  1 8s.,  at  the  rate  of  35.  in  the  pound 
on  ^"1000  us.,  being  the  amount  of  principal 
and  interest  due  on  the  1st  of  June,  1820.  It  is 
expected  that  a  further  dividend  of  6s.  or  75.  in 
the  pound  will  be  paid. 

In  the  appointment  of  the  inmates  of  this 
Hospital,  it  has  been  suggested  that  the  trustees 
have  not  admitted  so  many  persons  as  they 
might  have  done. 

The  funds  and  the  room  for  accommodation 
are  as  we  have  before  stated  sufficient  for  a 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  217 

greater  number.  There  does  not  however  appear 
any  unwillingness  on  the  part  of  the  trustees  to 
increase  the  number  provided  they  can  find 
proper  persons,  and  it  does  not  appear  to  us  that 
there  is  any  pretence  for  suspecting  that  they 
have  refused  any  candidate  without  good  reason. 
They  certainly  have  shown  great  caution,  and 
we  think  they  are  bound  so  to  do  in  not  admit- 
ting persons  who  have  not  good  characters  for 
honesty  and  sobriety  and  peaceable  tempers. 

So  ends  the  commissioners  very  long,  able  and 
important  report  of  Goosnargh  Hospital.* 

TRUSTEES   OF   GOOSNARGH    HOSPITAL,    1887. 

Richard  Pedder.  W.  Philip  Park. 

Dr.  Hammond.  John  Smith. 

THE    LIBRARY. 

In  the  year  1850  the  trustees  of  the  Hospital 
provided  a  library  of  about  120  volumes  of 
standard  works  for  the  use  of  the  inmates,  in 
which  may  be  found  "  milk  for  the  weak  and  meat 
for  the  strong."  May  they  thereby  be  taught  to 
"consider  their  latter  end,"  and  to  know  Christ 
as  their  only  hope  and  trust,  and  receive  grace 
to  clasp  Him  with  the  arms  of  their  faith,  then 
would  peace  be  multiplied  and  discord  cease  to 
reign  amongst  them.  Since  1850  the  library  has 
been  augmented  to  200  volumes. 

DR.  BUSHELL'S  MONUMENT. 

When  the  Hospital  was  enlarged  in  1843  and 
1844  a  rnonumental  stone  pyramid  was  erected 
in  front  of  the  new  wing,  and  thus  records  :  — 

*  A  great  effort  has  of  lale  been  made  by  the  inmates  of  this  estab- 
lishment to  change  its  name  from  Goosnargh  Hospital  to  Goosnargh 
House.  Oh  vanity ! 


2 1 8  GOOSNARGH  : 

THIS        OBELISK 
WAS  ERECTED 

A.D.   1844, 
WHEN  THE   HOSPITAL  OF  GOOSNARGH 

WAS   ENLARGED, 

AS  A  RECORD   TO  THE   MEMORY  OF 
WILLIAM     BUSHELL,     M.D., 

ITS 
BENEVOLENT  FOUNDER. 

The  commissioners  of  charities  in  their  I  ith  re- 
port on  Goosnargh  Hospital  wind  up  as  follows  : — 
"  This  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  most  interesting  of 
eleemosynary  foundations  in  the  County  of  Lan- 
caster. The  building  has  the  appearance  of  a 
gentleman's  mansion,  and  the  accommodations 
afforded  to  the  occupants  partake  much  more  of 
the  elegant  but  simple  hospitality  afforded  by  a 
country  squire  than  of  the  coarse  and  cheerless 
fare  of  a  common  hospital.  There  is  perhaps  no 
effective  balm  on  this  side  of  the  grave  for  those 
disappointed  hopes  which  terminate  in  a  charit- 
able asylum,  nor  any  compensation  for  the  loss 
of  social  domestic  enjoyments ;  but  here  the 
corroding  cares  which  so  often  embitter  the 
evening  of  life  are  banished,  the  pinching  grasp 
of  penury  is  never  felt,  and  the  mind  relieved 
from  the  anxious  and  absorbing  employments  of 
this  life  is  enabled  to  repose  on  the  hopes  of 
another. 

The  following  scrap  taken  from  the  Preston 
Chronicle  of  December,  1855,  and  headed  "A 
Curious  Relic  of  Antiquity,"  may  be  interesting 
here : — 

A  little  while  ago  as  Mr.  William  Holland, 
brass  founder  of  this  town,  was  turning  over  a 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  2 19 

quantity  of  old  metal  which  he  had  purchased 
some  time  before,  he  observed  what  he  thought 
was  an  inscription  on  a  piece  which  looked  rather 
more  antiquated  than  the  rest.  Curiosity  led 
him  to  make  a  further  examination  of  it,  when 
he  easily  deciphered  the  lettering.  We  have  now 
the  brass  before  us,  and  we  copy  from  it  the 
following : — 

Here  Lyeth  interd  Seath  Bvshell  Woollen 
Draper  Baylife,  and  a  Brother  of  Preston 
dying  the  XV  of  Septr.  1623  aged  53  gave 
vnto  his  kinesfoolkes  and  God  children  in 
legacies  VI  •  C  :  L.  (/6oo)  also  XX  •  L.  (£20) 
to  the  poore  of  this  towne  for  ever  the  vse 
(interest)  to  be  given  to  the  said  poore  by 
the  Maior  or  his  depvtie  at  Christs.  and 
Easter  4  L.  (^"4)  to  the  poore  of  Leeland 
&  Walton  al  ovt  of  his  charitable  minde. 

The  plate  has  evidently  been  on  the  grave- 
stone of  the  person  whose  death  and 
whose  benevolent  deeds  it  records,  and 
there  yet  adhere  to  it  some  of  the  revits  and  a 
little  of  the  cement  by  which  the  brass  was 
fastened  to  the  stone.  It  has  no  doubt  originally 
been  on  a  grave  in  our  Parish  Church-yard,  for 
we  find  in  the  parish  register  next  to  an  entry  of 
the  1 6th  September,  the  following: — "  Sep 
(Sepultus  i.  e.  buried)  Mr.  Seth  Bushell  eo  :  die  " 
(the  same  day).  From  the  freshness  of  the  in- 
scription and  the  state  of  the  plate  we  do  not 
suppose  that  it  has  been  exposed  to  the  weather 
since  the  date  inscribed  upon  it.  It  is  more 
likely  that  it  has  become  loose  generations  ago 
and  been  buried,  and  having  within  the  last  few 


22O  GOOSNARGH : 

years  turned  up,  perhaps  during  the  recent 
alterations  of  the  Church,  it  has  become  for  its 
value  as  old  metal — the  prize  of  some  workman. 
We  find  that  this  "  Seath  Bushell "  was  as 
described  on  the  plate,  u  a  brother  of  Preston," 
that  is  a  member  of  the  Corporation  ;  his  signa- 
ture of  "  Seathe  Bushell  "  being  subscribed  to 
some  proceedings  of  the  Town  Council  in  the 
year  1612,  was  witnessed  to  by  the  Vicar  of 
Preston.  His  signature  as  "  Seth  Bushell 

and  Vicar  of  Preston"  appears  several 
times  in  the  minute  book  of  the  parish 
vestry  between  the  years  1671-4.  It  is  not 
unlikely  that  Dr.  W.  Bushell  the  benevolent 
founder  of  Goosnargh  Hospital  was  of  this  family. 
As  respects  the  benefactions  to  the  poor  re- 
corded on  Seth  Bushell's  tombplate  we  can  give 
no  information.  The  Charity  Commissioners' 
reports  say  nothing  about  the  bequest  to  the 
poor  of  this  town  or  that  to  the  poor  of  Walton 
and  Leyland.  Like  many  others  they  have  in 
the  lapse  of  ages  been  lost  sight  of,  or  diverted 
from  their  original  destinations. 

In  1848  some  one  under  the  name  of  "  Guess  " 
wrote  on  Goosnargh  Hospital  as  follows : — 

Behold  yon  noble  structure  ;  Oh,  what  a  stately  place  ! 
Thy  founder  was  a  man,  not  found  in  any  place. 
How  philanthrophic  his  views  and  how  noble  his  aim, 
Renowned  benefactor,  immortal  be  thy  name. 
But  of  too  kind  a  heart  (if  such  a  thing  can  be), 
Too  liberal  in  soul,  all  thoughtful  men  agree  ; 
Yet  thy  design,  no  doubt,  was  the  happiness  of  man, 
And  fine-looking  theory  thy  foundation  did  plan. 
But  thy  working-architect  is  bound  to  insist 
That  idleness  with  happiness  never  can  consist. 
Degrading  to  noble  minds  it  certainly  must  be 
To  be  rendered  to  the  world  all  but — nonentity. 


PAST  AND   PRESENT.  221 

For  every  able-bodied  man  with  an  active  mind, 
My  homely  muse  declares  some  work  it  would  find ; 
Also  the  dainty  dames,  how  peaceably  they  mi^ht  sit 
Employed  for  their  poor  neighbours  to  sew  and  to  knit. 
Could  not  the  worthy  trustees,  by  a  pardonable  screw, 
The  old  rules  of  this  institution  somewhat  renew  ? 
For  idleness  ever  was,  and  evermore  we  shall  find, 
The  nurse  of  foul  passions  and  corruption  of  mind. 
Strong  stretches  of  power  we  frequently  do  see, 
And  what  has  been  before,  perchance  again  may  be. 
1  How  hard  is  my  daily  task,  and  what  long  hours  too  ; " 
The  task  of  pray  what  ? — task  of  having  nothing  to  do.* 
Oh,  just  hang  on  the  wall,  "to  dress  it  and  to  keep," 
And  of  a  new  little  Eden  we  soon  may  have  a  peep  ; 
Then  noble  institution,  in  grandeur  thou  would'st  stand, 
Without  any  parallel,  in  all  Queen  Victory's  land. 


PARISH    REGISTERS. 

The  institution  of  parish  registers  is  believed 
to  be  due  to  the  celebrated  Cardinal  Ximenes, 
Archbishop  of  Toledo.  In  the  year  1497  at  a 
synod  held  by  him  for  that  diocese,  he  suggested 
their  adoption  for  the  purpose  of  checking  the 
disorders  occasioned  by  the  frequency  of  divorces 
in  Spain. t 

It  is  true  that  earlier  mention  is  made  of  some 
such  records  as  these,  at  Avignon,  dating  from 
1308  to  1373.  Vellutello  affirms  that  he  con- 
sulted them  in  the  beginning  of  the  i6th 
century,  but  they  appear  to  have  been  private 
memoranda  of  the  incumbent  of  the  place. 

Parish  registers  in  this  country  were  first  ordered 
to  be  kept  by  an  injunction  issued  by  Thomas 
Lord  Cromwell,  Lord  Privy  Seal  and  Vicegerent 

*  There  is  nothing  so  wearisome  or  so  destructive  to  the  human  mind  as 
the  disease  called  nothing  to  do. — F.  T.  BUCKLAND. 

t  Marsolier. 


222  GOOSNARGH  : 

to  the  King,  dated  September,  1583.!!  He  may 
probably  have  picked  up  the  hint  in  the  course 
of  his  travels,  from  Cardinal  Ximenes.  It 
ordains  that  every  officiating  minister  shall  for 
every  Church  keep  a  book  wherein  he  shall 
register  every  marriage,  christening  and  burial, 
and  further  directs  the  manner  and  time  of 
making  the  entries  in  the  register  book  weekly, 
in  the  presence  of  the  churchwardens,  any  neglect 
therein  being  made  penal.  The  fine  imposed  for 
neglect  (three  shillings  and  fourpence)  to  be  em- 
ployed in  the  repairs  of  the  Church.  The  place 
of  deposit  of  the  register  book  to  be  a  coffer  with 
two  locks. 

Lord  Cromwell  being  however  regarded  as  an 
enemy  to  Popery,  and  as  one  who  favoured  in- 
novations in  religion,  the  good  intent  of  them 
was  much  misrepresented  and  his  order  rarely 
complied  with  by  the  clergy.  Amongst  the  com- 
paratively few  instances  of  prompt  compliance 
now  known  to  exist  are  the  registers  of  Cherry 
Hinton  in  Cambridgeshire,  commenced  within 
a  month  afterwards ;  Elsted  in  Surrey,  Brent 
Pelham,  Herts,  commenced  in  the  same  year ; 
Witnesham,  Suffolk,  Ashton  and  Courtenhall  in 
Northamptonshire. 

A  second  order  of  this  King  was  issued  in  the 
second  year  of  King  Edward  6th  (1547),  though 
perhaps  little  complied  with.  In  this  year  all 
episcopal  authority  was  suspended  for  a  time, 
while  the  ecclesiastical  visitors  then  appointed 
went  through  the  several  dioceses  to  enforce 
divers  injunctions,  and  amongst  others  that  re- 
lating to  parish  registers.  It  is  as  follows  : — 

II  Burnet's  History.    Ref.  vol.  i.,  p.  249. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  223 

That  the  parson,  vicar  or  curate,  and  parish- 
ioners of  every  parish  within  this  realm  shall  in 
their  Churches  and  Chappells  keep  in  one  book 
or  register  wherein  they  shall  write  the  day  and 
year  of  every  wedding,  christning  and  burial 
made  within  their  parish  for  their  time,  and  so 
every  man  succeeding  them  likewise,  and  therein 
shall  write  every  persons  name  that  shall  be  so 
wedded,  christened  or  buried.  And  for  the  safe 
keeping  of  the  same  book,  the  parish  shall  be 
bound  to  provide  of  their  common  charges  one 
sure  coffer  with  two  locks  and  keys,  whereof  the 
one  to  remain  with  the  parson,  vicar  or  curate, 
the  other  with  the  wardens  of  every  Parish 
Church  or  Chappell  wherein  the  said  book  shall 
be  laid  up,  which  book  they  shall  every  Sunday 
take  forth,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  said  war- 
dens or  one  of  them,  shall  write  and  record  in 
the  same  all  the  weddings,  christinings  or  burials 
made  the  whole  week  before  ;  and  that  done,  to 
lay  up  the  book  in  the  said  coffer  as  before.  And 
for  every  time  the  same  shall  be  omitted,  the 
party  that  shall  be  in  the  fault  thereof  shall 
forfeit  to  the  said  Church  iiis.  iiiid.  to  be  em- 
ployed to  the  poor  men's  box  of  that  parish.* 

A  third  order  is  to  be  met  with  in  the  Statutes 
of  the  National  Synod,  by  Cardinal  Pole,  about 
the  year  i553-t  If  the  parish  priest  had  a 
register  with  the  names  of  those  who  were  bap- 
tised of  the  sponsors,  of  the  married  and  the 
dead. 

The  most  curious  parish  register  perhaps  ever 
enjoined  is  one  ordered  by  Cardinal  Pole  in  the 
year  1555,  on  the  reconciliation  of  the  Kingdom 

*  Sparrow.        t  Life  of  Pole. 


224  GOOSNARGH  : 

to  the  Catholic  Faith,  to  be  kept  by  every  parish 
priest,  of  the  names  and  surnames  of  all  their 
parishioners  who  on  a  certain  day  to  be  settled 
on  were  to  be  reconciled  and  absolved. 

The  Act  of  Edward  VI.  was  again  repeated  in 
the  first,  seventh,  and  thirty-ninth  years  of  the 
reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth  (1559,  1565,  1597) 
with  this  difference  in  the  appropriation  of  the 
fine  imposed  for  neglect  of  duty :  "  one  half  to 
be  employed  to  the  poor  men's  box,  the  other 
half  to  the  repairing  of  the  Church,"  and  with 
the  expression  of  these  additional  requirements — 
that  the  names  of  the  ministers  and  churchwar- 
dens be  added  to  each  page  in  attestation  of  the 
correctness  of  every  entry,  and  that  a  properly 
authenticated  duplicate  of  the  register  book  for 
the  past  year  be  yearly  transmitted  to  the  bishop 
to  be  preserved  in  the  archives  of  the  diocese  in 
which  the  Church  may  be  situated.  It  also 
defines  the  book  to  be  used :  that  it  consist  of 
parchment,  recommending  that  all  former  regis- 
ter books  composed  of  paper  shall  be  transcribed 
upon  the  more  durable  material  now  suggested, 
especially  such  as  date  from  the  commencement 
of  the  present  reign,  and  provides  for  their 
additional  safety  by  providing  three  locks  and 
keys  for  the  parish  chest,  in  which  they  are 
ordered  to  be  deposited.  || 

The  canons  of  the  Church  of  England  which 
are  now  in  force  date  their  authority  from  the 
beginning  of  the  reign  of  James  I.  (1603),  one 
of  these  the  yoth  directs  that  in  every  Parish 
Church  or  Chapel  within  this  realm  shall  be 
provided  one  parchment  book  at  the  charge  of 

I  Sparrow. 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  225 

the  parish,  wherein  shall  be  written  the  day  and 
year  of  every  christening  wedding  or  burial 
which  have  been  in  that  parish  since  the  time 
that  the  law  was  first  made  in  that  behalf,  so  far 
as  the  ancient  books  thereof  can  be  procured, 
but  especially  since  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of 
the  late  Queen ;  and  the  minister  and  church- 
wardens unto  every  page  of  that  book,  when  it 
shall  be  filled  with  such  inscriptions,  shall  sub- 
scribe their  name.  The  only  additional  require- 
ment beyond  what  the  previous  Acts  had  recited 
being  that  the  name  and  surname  of  the  parents 
of  the  children  baptised  should  be  included  in 
each  entry  of  baptism.* 

In  the  reign  of  Charles  I.,  or  rather  during  the 
turbulent  times  of  the  Commonwealth  which 
preceded  the  death  of  the  King,  it  was  further 
enacted  (March,  1644)  by  authority  aforesaid  : — 
That  there  shall  be  provided  at  the  charge  of 
every  parish  or  chapelry  in  this  realm  of  England 
and  dominion  of  Wales,  a  fair  register  book  of 
vellum  to  be  kept  by  the  minister  and  other 
officers  of  the  Church,  and  that  the  names  of  all 
children  baptised  and  of  their  parents,  and  of  the 
time  of  their  birth  and  baptising  shall  be  written 
and  set  down  by  the  minister  therein,  and  also  the 
names  of  all  persons  married  there  and  the  time 
of  their  marriage,  and  also  the  names  of  all  per- 
sons buried  in  that  parish  and  the  time  of  their 
death  and  burial ;  and  that  the  said  book  shall 
be  shewed  by  such  as  keep  the  same  to  all  per- 
sons reasonably  desiring  to  search  for  the  birth, 
baptising,  marriage  or  burial  of  any  person 

*  Sparrow. 


226  GOOSNARGH  : 

therein  registered,  and  take  a  copy  or  procure  a 
certificate  thereof.* 

In  the  year  1653  it  was  enjoined  by  order  of 
the  Commonwealth  that  a  true  and  just  account 
shall  be  always  kept  as  well  of  publications  as  of 
marriages  and  also  of  the  births  of  children  and 
deaths  of  all  sorts  of  persons  within  this  Com- 
monwealth. Be  it  further  enacted  that  a  book 
of  good  vellum  or  parchment  shall  be  provided 
by  every  priest  for  the  registering  of  all  such 
marriages  and  of  all  births  of  children  and  burials 
of  all  sorts  of  persons  within  every  parish,  for  the 
safe  keeping  of  which  book  the  inhabitants  and 
householders  of  every  parish  chargeable  to  the 
relief  of  the  poor  or  the  greater  part  of  them 
present,  shall  on  or  before  Sept.  22nd,  1653, 
make  choice  of  some  able  and  honest  person  (such 
as  shall  be  sworn  and  approved  of  by  one  justice 
of  the  peace  in  that  parish,  division  or  county, 
and  so  signified  under  his  hand  in  the  said  register 
book)  to  have  the  keeping  of  the  said  book,  who 
shall  therein  fairly  enter  in  writing  all  such 
publications,  marriages,  births  of  children  and 
burials  of  all  sorts  of  persons,  and  the  names  of 
every  of  them,  and  the  days  of  the  month  and 
year  of  publications,  marriages,  births  and 
burials,  and  the  parents',  guardians'  or  overseers' 
names,  and  the  register  in  such  parish  shall 
attend  to  the  said  justice  of  peace  to  sub- 
scribe the  entry  of  every  such  marriage,  and  the 
person  so  elected,  appointed  and  sworn  shall  be 
called  the  parish  register,  and  shall  continue 
three  years  in  the  said  place  of  register,  and 
longer  until  some  other  be  chosen,  unless  such 

*  Seobell's  Acts  of  the  Commonwealth. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  227 

justice  of  the  peace  or  the  said  parish  with  con- 
sent of  such  justice  shall  think  fit  to  remove  him 
sooner,  and  for  such  publication  and  certificate 
thereof  tvvelvepence  and  no  more  shall  be  taken, 
and  for  every  birth  of  child  fourpence  and  no 
more,  and  for  publications,  marriages,  births  and 
burials  of  poor  people  who  live  upon  alms  nothing 
shall  be  taken.  And  the  said  justice  of  peace  (if  it 
be  desired)  shall  give  unto  the  parties  so  married 
a  certificate  in  parchment  under  his  hand  and 
seal  of  such  marriage  and  of  the  day  of  the 
solemnization  thereof,  and  of  two  or  more  of  the 
witnesses  then  present,  and  the  justice's  clerk 
for  this  certificate  may  receive  twelvepence  and 
no  more,  and  if  such  certificate  shall  be  produced 
to  the  clerk  of  the  peace  for  that  county  and  re- 
quest made  to  him  to  make  an  entry  thereof, 
then  the  said  clerk  of  the  peace  is  hereby  re- 
quired to  enter  the  same  in  a  book  of  parch- 
ment to  be  provided  for  that  purpose  and  kept 
among  the  records  of  the  said  sessions,  for  which 
entry  the  clerk  of  the  peace  may  receive  four- 
pence  and  no  more.  And  it  is  further  enacted 
that  register  books  of  marri- 
ages, births  and  burials  already  passed  shall  be 
delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  respective 
registers  apppointed  by  this  Act,  to  be  kept  as 
records.* 

By  Statute  30  Charles  II.,  c.  3,  the  curate  of 
every  parish  is  to  keep  a  register  to  be  provided 
at  the  charge  of  the  parish,  wherein  to  enter  all 
burials  and  affidavits  of  persons  being  buried  in 
woollen,  and  if  no  affidavit  be  brought  in  eight 
days  (which  must  be  reckoned  from  the  hour  in 

*  Scobell's  Acts  of  the  Commonwealth. 
O  2 


228  GOOSNARGH : 

which  the  corpse  was  interred)  he  must  enter  a 
memorial  of  this  default  over  against  the  name  of 
the  person  interred  and  of  the  time  when  he 
gave  notice  of  this  default  to  the  parish 
officers,  which  notice  must  be  given  under 
the  curate's  hand.  The  affidavit  shall  be 
taken  by  a  justice  of  the  peace,  Mayor  or  such 
like  chief  officer  in  the  parish  where  the  body 
was  interred,  and  if  there  be  no  officer,  then 
by  any  curate  within  the  county  where  the 
corpse  was  buried  (except  him  in  whose  parish 
the  corpse  was  buried),  who  must  administer  the 
oath  and  set  his  hand  gratis.  No  affidavit  is 
necessary  for  a  person  dying  of  the  plague. 

The  object  contemplated  in  this  Act  was  "the 
lessening  the  importation  of  linen  from  beyond 
the  seas  and  the  encouragement  of  the  woollen 
manufactures  of  this  kingdom."  A  fine  of  five 
pounds  was  imposed  upon  every  violation  of  this 
statute,  of  which  fine  the  informer  received  one- 
half  and  the  poor  of  the  parish  the  other  half. 

After  the  revolution  in  the  reign  of  William 
III.,  an  Act  was  passed  to  enforce,  not  a  registry 
of  baptisms,  but  of  births,  and  also  of  marriages 
and  burials  as  a  source  of  revenue  to  the  State. 

By  the  6th  and  7th  William  III.,  c.  6  (1694), 
a  tax  (to  be  continued  for  five  years)  was  levied 
upon  all  persons  born,  married  and  buried,  to 
enable  the  king  to  carry  on  a  war  with  France. 

At  the  burial  of  every  person  the  sum  of  four 
shillings  was  to  be  paid ;  upon  the  birth  of  every 
person  (except  the  child  or  children  of  such  as 
received  alms),  two  shillings ;  and  upon  the 
marriage  of  every  person  (except  such  as  receive 
alms),  the  sum  of  two  shillings  and  sixpence.  In 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  22g 

addition  to  these  charges  an  additional  sum  was 
levied  upon  each  person  proportioned  to  his 
estate ;  thus,  for  the  funeral  of  a  duke,  fifty 
pounds,  in  addition  to  the  four  shillings  ;  for  a 
marquis,  thirty  pounds;  and  so  down  to  a  simple 
gentleman,  for  whom  only  one  pound  was  to  be 
paid.  The  charge  for  an  archbishop  was  fifty 
pounds  ;  for  a  bishop,  thirty  pounds  ;  and  for  a 
canon,  two  pounds  ten  shillings. 

This  gave  rise  to  another  injunction  on  the 
subject  of  registration.  It  is  enjoined  (same  Act, 
sec.  20),  for  the  better  levying  and  collecting  the 
duties  aforesaid,  that  all  persons  in  holy  orders, 
deans,  parsons,  vicars,  curates,  and  their  or  any 
of  their  substitutes,  do,  within  their  respective 
parishes,  precints  and  places,  take  an  exact  and 
true  account,  and  keep  a  register  in  writing,  of 
all  and  every  person  or  persons  married,  buried, 
christened  or  born  in  his  or  their  respective 
parishes  or  precints,  or  in  such  common  burial 
places  as  their  respective  parishioners  are  usually 
buried  in ;  to  which  book  or  register  the  col- 
lectors for  the  respective  parishes  and  places,  and 
all  other  persons  concerned,  shall  have  free  access 
to  view  the  same  at  all  reasonable  times  without 
any  fee  or  reward.  And  if  any  such  parson  or 
minister  shall  refuse  or  neglect  to  keep  a  true 
register  thereof  as  directed,  such  parson  or  min- 
ister so  offending  shall  forfeit  the  sum  of  ^~ioo. 

Under  this  Act  the  clergy  were  compelled  to 
act  gratuitously  as  civil  officers,  and  to  collect 
information  of  the  births  of  all  children  born 
within  their  parishes,  to  whatever  religious 
denomination  the  parents  might  belong,  and 
quite  irrespective  of  any  baptismal  rite  performed 


230  GOOfNARGH  : 

by  them,  or  by  any  minister  dissenting  from 
their  church.  This  duty  having  been  too  oner- 
ous, and  information  as  to  births  being  unattain- 
able by  clergymen,  since  the  parents  by  conceal- 
ment eluded  payment  of  the  tax.  The  Act  yth 
and  8th  William  III.,  c.  35  (1695),  provided  that 
the  parents  of  every  child  should  within  five  days 
after  birth  give  notice  to  the  clergyman  of  the 
day  of  the  birth  of  such  child,  under  a  penalty  of 
forty  shillings ;  and  the  clergyman  should  under 
a  like  penalty  take  an  account  of  and  keep  a 
distinct  register  of  every  child  born  and  not 
christened,  for  doing  which  the  parents  were  to 
pay  sixpence  to  him. 

These  duties,  payable  to  the  Crown,  seem  to 
have  been  extended  beyond  the  time  first  pres- 
cribed. The  4th  and  5th  of  Anne,  c.  23,  contains 
a  recital  of  the  former  Act  and  a  proviso  for 
neglects  in  registering.  Many  inconveniences 
have  arisen  from  the  undue  solemnization  and 
registry  of  marriages.  An  Act  was  passed  in  the 
26th  George  III.  (1786),  entitled  "  an  Act  for  the 
better  preventing  clandestine  marriages,"  which 
directs  a  certain  formula  for  the  registry  of  mar- 
riages, to  be  attested  and  signed  by  the  minister 
officiating,  the  persons  married  and  two  more 
witnesses,  and  declares  any  erasure  or  mutilation 
of  the  marriage  register,  or  any  false  entry  there- 
in to  be  felony,  without  benefit  of  clergy,  which 
implies  a  capital  offence. 

On  the  2nd  October,  1783,  an  Act  (23  George 
III.,  c.  67),  came  into  operation  imposing  a  stamp 
duty  of  threepence  on  every  registration  of  burial, 
birth,  marriage  and  christening,  to  be  demanded 
by  each  clergyman  from  the  undertaker,  or  the 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  23! 

parties  married,  or  the  parents  of  a  child  whose 
birth  or  baptism  was  registered.  By  25  George 
III.,  c.  75,  this  tax  was  extended  to  Dissenters, 
whose  registration  of  births  or  baptisms  or  burials 
were  so  recognised  by  law.  It  was  repealed  by 
34  George  III.,  c.  u,  the  tax  ceasing  October  i, 
1794.  The  Act  contained  a  clause  exempting 
paupers  from  the  payment  of  the  tax. 

The  Act  by  which  the  parochial  registration 
of  baptisms  and  burials  was  regulated  previous  to 
1857,  was  passed  in  the  year  1812,  and  is  com- 
monly known  as  Sir  George  Rose's  Act.  This 
Act,  52  George  III.,  c.  146,  is  entitled  "an  Act 
for  better  regulating  and  preserving  parish  and 
other  registers  of  births,  baptisms,  marriages,  and 
burials  in  England."  It  directs  (sec.  i)  officiating 
ministers  to  keep  registers  of  public  and  private 
baptisms  of  marriages  and  of  burials;  (sec.  2)  the 
king's  printer  to  transmit  to  each  parish  a  printed 
copy  and  register  books,  adapted  to  forms  pres- 
cribed ;  (sec.  3)  registers  to  be  kept  in  separate 
books  and  signed  within  seven  days  after  each 
ceremony  was  performed ;  (sec.  4)  certain  forms 
to  be  observed  where  the  ceremony  is  not  per- 
formed in  the  parochial  church  or  church-yard  ; 
(sec.  5)  register  books  to  be  kept  by  officiating 
ministers  in  an  iron  chest,  provided  at  the  paro- 
chial expense,  and  whence  they  may  not  be 
removed  ;  (sec.  6)  annual  copies  to  be  made  by  the 
officiating  minister  verified  and  signed  and  by  the 
churchwardens  attested  ;  (sec.  7  )  such  copies  to 
be  yearly  transmitted  to  the  registrars  of  each 
diocese  by  the  churchwardens,  by  post ;  (sec.  8) 
diocesan  registrars  to  report  to  the  bishops  yearly 
thereon  ;  (sec.  9)  in  case  of  neglect  by  officiating 


232  GOOSNARGH  : 

ministers  to  verify  ar.d  sign,  churchwardens  to 
certify  his  default ;  (sec.  10)  where  there  are  no 
churches,  a  memorandum  of  each  baptism  and 
burial  to  be  delivered  to  the  officiating  minister 
of  an  adjoining  parish ;  (sec.  u)  letters  containing 
annual  copies  to  go  by  post,  and  free  from  postage ; 
(sec.  12)  annual  copies  transmitted  to  registrars 
to  be  safely  deposited  and  secured  from  damage 
or  destruction  by  fire,  and  carefully  arranged  for 
reference,  and  the  registrars  to  cause  alphabetical 
lists  of  all  persons  and  places  to  be  made  and 
kept,  and  to  be  open  for  search ;  (sec.  13)  a  report 
to  be  made  before  the  first  of  March  (1813)  to  the 
privy  council  of  the  state  of  every  place  where 
copies  of  parochial  registers  and  wills  are  pre- 
served, and  their  protection  from  damp  and  safety 
from  fire  ;  (sec.  15)  but  punishment  not  to  attach 
for  accidental  errors;  (sec.  16)  accustomed  fees 
to  continue;  (sec.  17)  annual  copies  not  to  be 
subject  to  any  stamp  duty  ;  (sec.  18)  one  half  of 
the  penalties  levied  under  the  Act  to  go  to  the 
informer,  and  the  remainder  either  to  the  poor 
of  the  parish  or  to  such  charitable  purposes  as 
the  bishops  shall  direct ;  (sec.  19)  list  of  all  extant 
register  books  to  be  transmitted  by  officiating 
minister  before  the  first  of  June,  1813,  to  diocesan 
registrar  ;  and  (sec.  20)  the  provisions  to  extend 
to  cathedrals  and  collegiate  churches,  and  to 
extra  parochial  chapels. 

On  this  extraordinary  statute  the  whole  system 
of  parochial  registration  (except  as  relates  to 
marriages,  which  is  controlled  by  a  later  enact- 
ment, 6  and  7  Gul.  IV.,  c.  86),  at  present  depends ; 
and  that  it  is  extraordinary  will  appear,  if  refer- 
ence be  made— -first,  to  the  title,  which  includes 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  233 

a  register  of  births  for  which  no  provision  was 
framed,  and  which  cannot  legally  be  kept ; 
secondly,  to  the  clauses  directing  the  labours  of 
receiving,  arranging  and  indexing  all  the  copies 
of  registers,  and  making  reports  to  the  bishops  by 
the  diocesan  registrars,  for  which  no  compensation 
is  awarded ;  and  thirdly,  to  the  clause  for  appro- 
priating penalties  which  are  not  imposed,  and  of 
which  the  only  one  directed  is  transportation, 
which  no  informer  would  desire  to  share,  nor  any 
charity  to  partake  of. 

On  the  ist  July,  1837,  the  Civil  Registration 
Act,  6  and  7  Gul.  IV.,  c.  86,  came  into  operation. 
It  is  entitled  "  An  Act  for  Registering  Births 
Deaths  and  Marriages  in  England."  It  repeals 
(sect,  i)  such  portions  of  the  Act  52  Geo.  III., 
c.  146,  as  relate  to  the  Registration  of  Marriages, 
confirming  (sec.  49)  the  existing  registration  of 
baptisms  and  burials. 

This  Act  provides  (sec.  2)  for  the  establish  - 
lishment  of  a  general  registry  office  to  be  situated 
in  London  or  Westminster,  and  for  the  formation 
of  districts  and  the  appointment  of  officers 
(sec.  7)  throughout  England,  who  may  carry 
out  the  provisions  of  the  Act.  It  directs  (sec.  31) 
that  henceforth  all  marriage  registers  (amended 
in  form  by  the  introduction  of  the  names  and 
occupations  of  the  parents  of  the  several  con- 
tracting parties)  shall  be  kept  in  duplicate  (sec.33), 
one  copy  of  every  such  register  book,  when  filled, 
shall  be  delivered  to  the  superintendent  register 
of  the  district  in  which  the  Church  or  Chapel  may 
be  situated  ;  the  other  copy  remaining  in  the 
keeping  of  the  officers  of  the  Church  or  Chapel 
within  which  the  marriages  registered  therein 


234  GOOSNARGH  : 

shall  have  been  solemnized  ;  and  also  that  (same 
sec.)  every  quarter  of  a  year  a  true  copy  of  all 
entries  of  marriages  in  the  register  book  for  the 
previous  three  months,  certified  by  the  rector  or 
vicar,  curate  or  other  minister,  shall  be  delivered 
up  to  the  superintendent  registrar,  to  be  by  him 
transmitted  (sec.  34)  to  the  general  registry  office 
in  London.  By  this  Act  (since  amended  by  I 
Vic.,  c.  22,  and  by  3  and  4  Vic.,  c.  72)  the  regis- 
tration of  marriages  is  now  regulated. 

The  Church  registers  commenced  in  1639 
written  on  parchment,  and  at  first  are  very  brief. 
The  following  are  selected  as  examples  : — 

April  in  Anno  Dno  dei  1639. 

Buried  was  Ellen  the  daughter  of  John  Threl- 
fall,  the  first  day. 

Christened  was  Thomas  the  sonne  of  Chris- 
topher Salisbury  flaxman,  and  Elizabeth  the 
daughter  of  John  Salisbury  aleman,  the  eight- 
eenth day. 

Buried  was  Alice  a  base  daughter  of  Salisbury, 
the  first  day. 

Married  was  John  Pendleton.  (This  is  all 
that  is  recorded  of  the  wedding). 

Christened  was  William  the  supposed  sonne 
of  John  Bushell,  begotten  of  the  boddie  of 
Margaret  Topping  the  XXVI  day  April,  1640  in 
templu.  Buried  was  Elizabeth  ye  daughter  of 
Willm.  Crumbleholme,  the  one  and  twentieth 
day. 

Deer,  in  templu.  Buried  was  Ellen  Godfray, 
servant  to  Alex.  Rigby,  ye  V  day. 

1664.  Buried  was  a  souldier  found  slaine,  the 
first  day  August. 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  23$ 

In  1635  the  charge  made  by  "the  24"  for 
burial  within  the  Church  was  I2d.,  whilst  the 
fee  for  interment  outside  the  Church-yard  was 
2d.  Thus  the  old  saying  was  verified  : — 

Here  I  lie  outside  the  Church  door, 
Here  I  lie  because  I'm  poor  ; 
The  further  in  the  more  they  pay, 
But  here  I  lie  as  snug  as  they. 

June  1 8th,  1817.  Buried,  Betty  Dunn,  Goos- 
nargh,  aged  100  years. 

Septr.  ist,  1826.  Buried,  Fanny  Smith,  Goos- 
nargh,  aged  100  years. 

BENEFIT   SOCIETIES. 

There  is  a  Benefit  or  Friendly  Society  held  in 
this  township  which  was  established  on  the  i8th 
August,  in  the  year  1784,  and  holds  its  meetings 
at  the  Grapes  Inn  (formerly  the  General  Elliot). 
The  annual  meeting  is  always  held  on  Whit- 
Tuesday,  on  which  day  there  is  service  in  the 
Church,  and  the  club  members  parade  the 
village,  headed  by  a  band  of  music,  and  the 
society's  banner  which  displays  two  female  figures 
emblematical  of  Justice  and  Mercy  hand  in  hand, 
with  the  motto  inscribed: — "Goosnargh  Ami- 
cable Society."  Love  as  Brethren. 

In  addition  to  the  annual  meeting  this  society 
holds  foui  quarterly  meetings  on  the  first  Tues- 
day of  the  months  of  January,  April,  July  and 
October  respectively.  The  society  is  governed 
by  a  president,  vice-president,  secretary,  treasurer, 
two  stewards  and  a  committe  of  1 1  members. 

The  president  and  stewards  are  chosen 
annually  at  the  April  meetings  by  ballot  or 


236  GOOSNARGH  : 

otherwise,  and  new  members  are  also  chosen  at 
any  of  the  public  meetings.  The  entrance  fee  is 
only  33.,  and  the  quarterly  subscriptions  33.  3d.; 
and  all  members  who  reside  within  ten  miles  of 
the  house  where  the  annual  meeting  is  held 
are  required  to  contribute  23.  6d.  towards  the 
expenses  of  the  dinner  whether  they  attend  or 
not.  The  dinner  which  is  first-rate,  is  served  up 
in  the  boys'  schoolroom,  and  if  we  may  believe 
report,  has  often  "  ample  justice  done  to  it.'' 

The  society  makes  it  a  rule  not  to  admit  mem- 
bers above  30  years  of  age,  and  if  they  are  ad- 
mitted above  that  age  they  are  required  to  pay 
135.  a  year  for  every  year  they  are  above  that  age. 

Every  member  after  he  attains  the  age  of  70 
years  is  entitled  to  2s.  a  week  for  life  ;  a  sick 
member  receives  6s.  a  week  for  26  weeks  if  his 
sickness  continue  so  long  ;  and  after  the  expira- 
tion of  six  months  then  35.  a  week  during  the 
next  six  months ;  and  afterwards  2s.  a  week  for 
and  during  the  time  of  his  sickness. 

If  a  member's  wife  die  he  is  entitled  to  303.  for 
her  funeral  expenses,  and  at  his  death  £^  IDS.  is 
paid  towards  his  funeral  expenses;  any  member 
dying  not  having  buried  a  wife  and  received  the 
club's  funeral  allowance,  his  friends  are  entitled 
to  £^  for  his  funeral  expenses. 

In  1852  the  club  consisted  of  129  members  of 
which  10  were  honorary  ;  they  paid  123.  annually 
to  the  society's  funds,  but  never  received  any 
relief  therefrom.  (To  members  such  as  these  it 
owes  its  strength.) 

Rules  of  the  above  Society  and  Scale  o/  Fines. 

Refusing  to  serve  the  office  of  president  or     s.  D. 
steward    5     o 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  237 

S.     D. 

President,  stewards  or  secretary  neglecting 

their  duty  I  o 

Refusing  to  serve  on  the  committee        ...     2     o 

Neglecting  to  attend  on  the  committee  in 

due  time o  6 

Members  of  the  committee  relating  their 

transactions  2  o 

Sick  members  working  during  receipt 

of  the  society's  allowance  6  o 

Sick  members  leaving  home  without  leave 

after  sunset 2  6 

Sick  members  refusing  to  be  visited — a 

week's  allowance  6  o 

Neglecting  to  attend  the  annual  meeting 

and  dinner  2  6 

Cursing,  swearing,  giving  the  lie,  offering 
or  accepting  wagers  or  attending  a  meet- 
ing intoxicated  o  6 

Assaulting  a  member  in  the  clubroom    ...     5     o 

Gaming  or  promoting  gaming,  or  speak- 
ing ill  of  any  member  2  o 

Interrupting  the  officers  in  the  discharge 

of  their  duty o  6 

Neglecting  to  obey  the  president  when 

he  demands  order  in  the  meeting  ...  o  3 

Neglecting  to  pay  contribution  monies 

and  fines  first  quarterly  meeting o  6 

Do.       second  quarterly  meeting     ...      i     o 

Proposing  or  agreeing  to  propose  to  dis- 
solve the  society  or  making  a  division  of 
the  funds 10  o 

Refusing  to  pay  a  fine  when  demanded 
and  neglecting  to  appeal — double  fine. 


238  GOOSNARGH  : 

The  rules  of  this  society  are  as  follows,  and 
were  enrolled  by  Government  in  the  year  1831, 
and  according  to  the  number  of  members  its 
funds  at  that  date  were  perhaps  the  largest  of 
any  club  funds  in  England ;  it  had  £600  on 
mortgage,  paying  ^"4  los.  per  cent,  and  upwards 
of  ^"iooin  the  Preston  Savings  Bank. 

At  present  (i  885)  there  are  84  members,  seven 
of  which  are  honorary,  and  the  funds  of  the 
society  now  stand  at  ^500,  which  is  in  the 
hands  of  the  Kibble  Navigation  Company,  who 
pay  5  per  cent,  for  it. 

Whilst  nearly  all  the  old  friendly  societies 
have  been  broken  up  for  want  of  funds,  Goos- 
nargh  Club  has  gathered  strength  with  age  and 
promises  fair  to  lend  its  aid  to  generations  yet 
unborn.  This  is  partly  owing  to  a  more  equit- 
able adjustment  of  the  receipts  and  disburse- 
ments than  those  which  have  dwindled  away, 
but  principally  to  its  being  favoured  with  so 
many  of  those  "  honry "  members  mentioned 
above. 

Benefit  societies  were  first  established  in  En- 
gland in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  (from  three  to  four 
hundred  years  ago),  and  were  then  called  Guilds 
— and  of  the  principle  on  which  they  are  based 
there  can  be  but  one  opinion — a  provision  in 
youth  and  health  against  old  age  and  sickness  is 
what  every  right-minded  person  must  approve  ; 
and  if  the  convivial  cup  could  be  separated  from 
the  social  they  would  be  what  every  well-wisher 
of  society  would  most  cordially  approve  of ;  but 
the  revelling  and  drunkenness  attendant  on  the 
annual  and  quarterly  meetings  are  great  draw- 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  239 

backs  to  their  usefulness  and  desirableness,  totally 
excluding  teetotallers  and  others  of  tender  minds 
who  fear  that  the  eternal  evil  outbalances  the 
temporal  good.  Since  the  above  was  written  in 
1852,  the  old  club  has  declined  both  in  men  and 
money. 

Perhaps  this  festival  draws  together  more  lively 
lads  and  right  down  bonny  lasses  than  any  other 
"  pass-time  "  in  this  country  ;  but  I  must  confess 
that  I  do  not  like  to  see  so  many  nice,  tidy  young 
"wenches"  hawking  themselves  at  clubs  and 
fairs.  Stop  at  home  lasses  on  such  occasions  ; 
nothing  really  useful  is  ever  lost  for  want  of 
looking  after.  Have  patience  a  little  bit,  if  you 
possess  merit ;  merit  by  and  by  will  ferret  you 
out,  even  if  your  friends  have  shut  you  up  in  their 
meal  arks.  My  pen  says  this,  but  I  suppose  it 
might  as  well  have  said  "  lasses  don't  be  wed !  " 

Here  it  is  that  the  celebrated  and  far-famed 
"  Goosnargh  Cakes  "  are  made.  They  are  charged 
one  penny  each,  and  disposed  of  every  year  to 
the  tune  of  something  like  4000  dozens  ! 

Some  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  township  are 
members  of  the  Oddfellows'  club  and  other  secret 
societies,  but  the  rules  of  some  of  them  not  being 
registered  by  Government,  their  members  were 
often  through  internal  factions  liable  to  suffer 
great  injustice,  and  however  unjustly  they  may 
be  treated  by  their  "  fellows,"  they  being  a  law 
to  themselves,  have  no  other  law  whereby  to 
redress  their  grievances ;  but  many  of  these 
societies  have  taken  the  advantage  of  the  privilege 
they  so  loudly  clamoured  for  and  which  has  lately 
been  conferred  upon  them. 


240  GOOSNARGH  : 

On  Benefit  Societies,  Baines  in  his  History  of 
Lancashire  remarks  : 

"  Those  institutions  called  Sick  Clubs  or 
Benefit  Societies  prevail  here  very  gener- 
ally, and  the  provision  made  in  this  way 
by  the  poor  for  themselves  in  sickness  and 
old  age,  combined  with  their  deposits  in 
the  Savings  Banks,  materially  relieve  the 
demand  upon  the  parish  funds.  The  con- 
trast in  the  condition  of  those  who  are 
members  of  these  societies  and  those  who 
in  the  same  place  are  content  to  rely  upon 
the  parish  for  relief,  is  often  strongly 
marked.  The  former  are  in  general  com- 
paratively clean,  orderly  and  sober,  and 
consequently  happy,  while  the  latter  are 
living  in  filth  and  wretchedness,  and  are 
often  from  the  pressure  of  casual  sickness 
or  accident,  which  incapacitates  them  from 
working,  tempted  to  the  commission  of 
improper  acts  (not  to  say  crimes)  against 
which  the  sure  resource  of  a  benefit  club 
would  have  been  the  best  prevention.  The 
legislature,  well  aware  that  the  tendency 
of  these  societies  is  to  promote  individual 
happiness  and  to  diminish  the  public 
burdens,  has  invested  them  with  the  power 
and  privileges  of  corporations  on  their 
rules  being  duly  inspected  and  registered 
at  the  quarter  sessions,  which  gives  them 
great  advantages  in  the  management  of 
their  funds,  and  protects  them  against  dep- 
redation. It  frequently  happens  that  the 
anniversary  of  the  establishment  of  their 
societies  is  observed  by  the  members  as  a 


PAST  AND   PRESENT.  24! 

day  of  festivity  and  sometimes  of  dissipa- 
tion, but  this  evil  cannot  well  be  prevented, 
and  danger  might  ensue  from  such  a 
reform  as  would  take  away  the  festive  part 
of  the  ceremony.  The  best  remedy  is  the 
general  inculcation  of  good  principles  and 
temperate  habits,  which  would  teach  men 
to  be  at  once  '  merry  and  wise.'  " 

From  the  Report  of  Committee  on  Friendly 
Societies,  1825,  I  borrow  the  following  : — 

"  Friendly  Societies  and  Savings  Banks  some- 
times appear  as  rival  institutions,  and 
their  respective  merits  are  keenly  can- 
vassed. Both  have  certainly  their  peculiar 
advantages.  There  is  much  in  the  con- 
sciousness of  having  a  small  fund  stored 
up,  and  in  the  power  of  employing  it  for 
any  particular  purpose  at  pleasure ;  but 
it  cannot  be  doubted  that  a  reserve  fund 
is  a  less  efficient  protection  against  contin- 
gencies, such  as  sickness,  and  death  itself, 
than  connection  with  a  sound  friendly 
society.  The  difference  is  like  that  be- 
tween taking  one's  risk  of  loss  from  fire 
and  paying  into  an  insurance  office. 
Whenever  there  is  a  contingency  the 
cheapest  way  of  providing  against  it  is  by 
uniting  with  others,  so  that  each  man 
may  subject  himself  to  a  small  deprivation, 
in  order  that  no  man  may  be  subjected  to 
a  great  loss.  He  upon  whom  the  contin- 
gency does  not  fall  does  not  get  his  money 
back  again,  nor  does  he  get  for  it  any 
visible  or  tangible  benefit,  but  obtains 
security  against  ruin,  and  consequent 


242  GOOSXARGH  : 

peace  of  mind.  He  upon  whom  the  con- 
tingency does  fall  gets  all  that  those,  whom 
fortune  has  exempted  from  it,  have  lost  in 
hard  money,  and  is  thus  enabled  to  sustain 
an  event  which  would  otherwise  over- 
whelm him." 

For   further    information   on    those    valuable 
institutions,  Savings  Banks  and  Friendly  Socie- 
ties, see  Chamber's  Information  for  the  Pe/pit, 
part  17,  page  305. 

We  have  a  few  here  that  are  members  (f  the 
Oddfellows'  Society. 

Formerly  it  was  so  uncommon  a  thin,  for  a 
working  man  to  be  provident  and  to  lookto  the 
future  for  his  wife  and  children,  and  pro-ide  for 
a  rainy  day,  that  those  sensible  men  whcformed 
the  society  probably  called  themselves  "Odd- 
fellows," to  distinguish  themselves  from  ie  com- 
mon run  who  were  not  so  provident.  We  too 
have  a  sprinkling  of  Rechabites — anofler  good 
society.  See  Jeremiah  35th  chapter. 

How  short  the  stay  of  Man 

When  Baines  published  his  Historyf  Lanca- 
shire in  1825,  the  following  are  stat<  to  have 
been  the  principal  inhabitants  of  Goo^argh  : — 

James  Almond,  Machine  Maker. 

John  Barton,  Innkeeper,  GeneraElhot. 

William  Clifton,  Land  Surveyor-Stump 
Cross. 

Henry  Grimbaldston,  Schoolmaer- 

Thomas  Hornby,  Gent.,  Westfid. 

James  Mackarell,  Joiner. 

Richard  Stothert,  senr.,  Joinei 

Rev.  J.  B.  Martin,  Priest  Hill. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  243 

Mrs.  E.  Park,  Governess,  Goosnargh  Hos- 
pital. 

John  Parker,  Esq.,  Wood  Heys. 

John  Parkinson,  Innkeeper,  Dog  and 
Partridge. 

Richard  Parkinson,  Innkeeper.  Horns. 

James  Sidgreaves,  Attorney,  Inglewhite 
Lodge. 

Isaac  Walker,  Miller,  Brock  Mill. 
Only  60  years  ago,  and  all  long  since  dead ! 

POST  OFFICE. 

On  the  3rd  day  of  May,  1848,  a  foot  post  was 
established  between  Preston  and  Goosnargh 
village,  by  which  letters  and  newspapers  were 
transmitted  daily  (Sundays  excepted)  to  and  from 
the  said  places.  The  first  messenger  then  was 
Mr.  John  Hodgson,  and  he  arrived  at  the  office 
about  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  left  for 
Preston  about  three  in  the  afternoon. 

Mr.  Thomas  Parkinson  was  the  post  master, 
and  he  received  from  Government  _^5  a  year  for 
his  services  and  55.  for  every  ^5  worth  of  postage 
stamps  sold  at  his  office. 

Previous  to  the  establishment  of  the  Post 
Office  the  transmission  of  letters  in  this  district 
was  very  irregular  and  very  difficult.  For  many 
years  they  were  principally  left  by  the  old  mail 
coach  at  a  public  house  at  Broughton  four-lane- 
ends,  and  found  their  way  home  by  chance,  it 
frequently  happening  that  a  letter  was  a  week  or 
ten  days  in  finding  its  way  from  Preston  to 
Goosnargh.  (How  did  we  manage  without  a 
post  from  Preston  to  Goosnargh  ?)  Hence  the 
p  2 


244  GOOSNARGH  : 

establishment  of  a  regular  post  to  Goosnargh  was 
haled  as  a  great  boon  by  the  inhabitants  of  this 
locality.  The  post  messenger  now  arrives  at 
Goosnargh  village  about  seven  o'clock  every 
morning  and  proceeds  to  the  Post  Office  at 
Inglewhite  which  was  established  there  in  1884, 
and  from  thence  he  has  a  run  round  to  White- 
chapel  where  there  is  a  collecting  box,  and  then 
returns  at  5  p.m.  through  Goosnargh  village  to 
Preston.  Two  other  post  messengers  are  daily 
despatched  from  the  Post  Office  at  Goosnargh. 
Mr.  William  Clarkson  is  the  Goosnargh  post 
master,  where  he  has  a  savings  bank  and  money 
order  office.  His  post  salaries  and  perquisites 
amount  to  about  ^"40  a  year.  Thanks  to  our 
governors,  they  have  long  made  us  hear  when 
they  wanted  anything  from  us,  and  now  they 
are  attending  to  our  especial  convenience. 

FUNERALS  AND  FUNERAL  REFORM. 

In  1 845  I  wrote  a  tract  on  funerals  as  follows, 
which  I  beg  to  repeat : — 

FRIEND, 

Bear  with  me  a  moment,  and  don't  be  offended. 
"  In  the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death,"  and  in  the  midst  of 
death  the  multitude  appears  to  be  alive  to  the  world  and 
dead  to  the  consequences  of  death.  Our  friends  and  neigh- 
bours drop  around  us  one  after  another  into  the  grave  ;  we 
attend  and  pay  our  last  respects,  or  rather  to  witness  in  the 
dead  the  frailty  of  the  living,  and  in  the  living  the  depravity 
of  man  ;  for  if  aught  on  earth  be  calculated  to  impress  upon 
the  minds  the  awful  sentence — "  Dust  thou  art  and  unto  dust 
thou  shall  return  " — it  must  be  to  witness  its  execution  ; 
but  if  there  be  one  more  solemn  occasion  than  another,  it 
must  be  the  funeral  pile  ;  if  there  ever  be  a  period  when 
serious  conversation,  self-examination  and  spiritual  com- 


PAST  AND   PRESENT.  245 

munion  become  men,  it  must  be  when  assembled  around 
their  departed  brother's  remains  ;  if  ever  there  be  a  con- 
venient season  to  put  a  few  such  questions  as  the  following  to 
one's  own  conscience,  it  must  be  the  funeral  day  : — -How  would 
my  accounts  stand  were  I  called  to  give  an  account  ?  Am  I  re- 
conciled to  my  offended  Maker?  Could  I  approach  the  King  of 
Terrors  without  dread  ?  Is  death  disarmed  of  its  sting  ? 
Does  the  Spirit  of  God  bear  witness  with  my  spirit  that  I 
am  a  son  of  God  ?  What  certain  hope  have  I  of  an  inherit- 
ance in  Heaven  ?  Does  conscience  speak  peace  ?  Are  my 
sins  made  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  ?  Am  I  disposed 
to  enter  into  a  serious  enquiry  respecting  my  eternal  wel- 
fare ?  Or  am  not  I  rather  like  Felix,  desirous  to  put  it  off  to 
another  (not  a  more  convenient)  season?  But  is  such  the 
general  case  ?  No !  Attend  the  funeral  gathering  and 
there  does  indeed  appear  somewhat  of  seriousness  and  re- 
flection to  pervade  the  assembly  for  a  brief  space,  such  as 
becomes  the  "house  of  mourning, "but  such  I  presume  as  not 
well  agrees  with  the  evil  spirit,  and  he  suggests  that  old 
customs  must  not  be  abandoned ;  that  the  friends  of  the 
deceased  must  do  as  their  neighbours  have  done,  or 
they  will  be  considered  "shabby;"  and  that  which  of  all 
other  things  is  most  calculated  to  drive  away  all  serious  re- 
flection :  that  pernicious  cup ;  that  thought-destroying 
draught,  though  it  may  have  been  absent  from  the  house  for 
months  and  years  must  now  be  introduced  ;  yea,  even  though 
the  deceased  met  his  death  whilst  under  the  influence  of  in- 
toxicating liquor,  yet  it  must  be  the  concomitant  of  his  burial ! 
And  need  I  ask  what  is  the  consequence  of  its  introduction  ? 
The  little  seriousness  that  prevailed  at  the  first  greeting 
gradually  but  quietly  disappears,  and  worldly  conversation 
soon  follows  the  spicy  ale  ;  discussions  of  the  weather ;  the 
probable  yield  of  the  harvest  ;  news  local  and  political ;  the 
faults  and  failings  of  neighbours  ;  gossip  and  scandal  follow- 
ing in  the  train  fill  up  the  waiting  period.  (I  am  not  so 
sanguine  as  to  suppose  that  this  would  not  in  some  measure 
be  the  case  in  the  absence  of  alcoholic  drinks,  but  I  think  it 
must  be  obvious  to  every  disinterested  candid  observer  that 
they  have  a  strong  tendency  to  increase  it). 

A  functionary  proclaim?  the  starting  time,  and  onward 
our  departed  friend's  remains  are  borne  to  the  place  appointed 
for  all  living.  A  most  solemn  scene  now  takes  place,  one 
calculated  to  strike  the  most  unthinking  with  awe,  and  send 


246  GOOSNARGH  : 

him  to  his  home  meditating  in  a  strain  somewhat  like  the 
following : — must  I  too  die  ?  Must  my  body  be  consigned 
to  the  cold  ground,  and  my  never-dj-ing  soul  ushered  into  the 
presence  of  the  Lord  Jehovah  ?  And  what  surer  footing  have 
I  on  earth  than  this  my  departed  brother  lately  had  ? 
But  no  sooner  closes  the  solemn  service,  no  sooner  has  the 
vibration  of  the  words  "  ashes  to  ashes,  dust  to  dust  "  closed 
upon  the  ear  than  the  company  are  informed  that  "  those 
who  attend  this  funeral  are  desired  to  go  to  the  public- 
house  ; "  and  for  what  ?  Not  in  general  to  refresh  the  body 
"with  that  which  cheers  but  not  inebriates,"  but  to  have  a 
fresh  supply  of  that  madding  poison,  and  thus  effectually 
drive  away  all  thoughts  of  the  occasion  which  called  them 
together  ;  to  banish  all  serious  reflection  from  the  mind,  and 
not  uncommonly  send  numbers  staggering  home.  This,  I 
own,  is  a  rough  picture,  but  it  is  not  too  highly  coloured  ; 
this  I  have  witnessed  on  many  successive  occasions.  Friends, 
neighbours,  guardians  and  conductors  of  funerals,  I  call  upon 
you  for  this  indulgence,  to  give  the  above  a  moment's  con- 
sideration, and  henceforward  be  guided  in  such  cases,  not  by 
custom,  but  by  prudence  ;  not  by  the  consideration  of  what 
the  world  would  say,  but  by  what  conscience  suggests;  not  by 
what  others  have  done  in  like  circumstances,  but  what  would 
best  promote  the  general  good  of  others,  bear  reflection,  and 
bring  peace  at  the  last  ;  and  not  be  awed  by  the  sneers  of 
the  unthinking  and  unholy.  Let  but  a  little  band  join 
hand  in  hand  ;  set  a  better  example  and  much  might  be  done 
thereby  to  conquer  prejudice  and  uproot  this  pernicious 
custom,  and  openly  declare  in  the  face  of  the  contemptuous 
and  scornful  man  that  it  is  their  desire  that  their  last  earthly 
journey  may  be  made  in  peace  ;  that  seriousness  and 
sobriety  may  attend  the  disposal  of  their  bones;  and  that  it  is 
their  supreme  desire  to  live  the  life  and  die  the  death  of  the 
righteous,  "that  their  last  end  may  be  like  his;"  and  that 
no  intoxicating  liquor  be  used  at  their  funerals. 

Since  the  above  was  written  a  great  improvement  has 
taken  place  in  the  mode  of  conducting  funerals ;  but  yet  a  still 
greater  reform  is  much  needed,  and  the  following  rules  (which 
upon  the  whole  I  think  very  good)  have  been  suggested  : — 
I.  The  exercise  of  economy  and  simplicity  in  everythingapper- 
taining  to  the  funeral.  2.  The  use  of  plain  hearses  or  wheeled 
biers.  3.  The  disuse  of  crape,  scarves,  feathers,  velvet  trappings 
and  the  like.  4.  The  avoiding  of  excessive  floral  decorations. 


PAST  AND   PRESENT.  247 

5.  The  discouraging  on  the  occasion  of  the  funeral,  as  far  as 
possible,  all  eating  and  drinking  beyond  that  of  every-day 
life.  6.  The  meeting  in  the  church-yard  or  cemetery  instead 
of  at  the  house  of  mourning.  7.  The  dispelling  of  the  idea 
that  all  the  club  money  must  be  spent  at  the  funeral.  8. 
The  early  interment  of  the  body  in  soil  sufficient  and  suitable 
for  its  resolution  to  its  ultimate  elements.  9.  The  use  of 
such  materials  for  the  coffin  as  will  readily  decay  after  burial. 
N.B. — This  method  is  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  Nature 
and  avoids  sanitary  evils,  whilst  the  practice  of  burying  in 
almost  imperishable  coffins  is  fraught  with  danger  to  the 
public  health.  10.  The  substitution  of  burial  plots  sur- 
rounded by  coping  for  family  vaults.  II.  The  encourage- 
ment on  sanitary  grounds  of  the  removal  in  crowded  di=tricts 
of  the  body  to  a  mortuary,  instead  of  remaining  in  the  rooms 
occupied  by  the  living.  12.  The  impressing  upon  work- 
house officials  the  claims  of  the  poorest  to  proper  and 
reverent  burial. 


GENTLEMEN'S  SEATS. 

Thirty  years  ago  an  historian  wrote  : — 

"  I  can  only  enumerate  two  gentlemen's  seats 
in  this  township. 

Inglewhite  Lodge,  the  residence  of 
James  Sidgreaves,  Esq.,  whose  ancestors 
have  resided  here  successively  for  upwards 
of  200  years  :  may  it  descend  to  '  bairn's 
bairns/  and  may  the  old  blood  run  uncon- 
taminated  through  posterity's  posterity. 

The  other  is  Goosnargh  Lodge,  form- 
erly the  summer  seat  of  the  Oliverson's 
of  London,  Avho  having  done  so  much  for 
this  township,  especially  in  the  promo- 
tion of  education,  may  justly  be  called  the 
patrons  of  Goosnargh." 

At  present  I  am  sorry  to  say  both  these  seats 
are  now  occupied  as  common  farm  houses. 


248  GOOSNARGH : 

ANCIENT    PUNISHMENT. 

Three  modes  of  punishing  petty  offenders 
appear  to  have  been  adopted  here,  which  have 
long  since  fallen  into  disuse — the  foot  stocks,  the 
cucking  stool,  and  the  penance  sheet. 

Some  of  the  older  inhabitants  can  remember 
the  Goosnargh  foot  stocks  standing  close  to  Ingle- 
white  Cross.  Stocks  were  chiefly  used  to  punish 
drunken  and  disorderly  men,  that  class  of 
offenders  which  the  refinement  rather  than  the 
improvement  of  the  times  now  punishes  by  a  fine 
of  5/-  and.  expenses.  If  a  public  exposure  had 
any  good  effect  it  was  equal  if  not  superior  to 
the  mode  now  adopted,  for  a  fine  of  5/-  seldom 
if  ever  works  any  reformation  upon  the  offenders, 
and  the  fine  and  expenses  though  not  great  in 
amount  are  often  additional  evils  to  all  the  other 
evils  to  a  drunkard's  wife  and  family  ;  for  in  the 
generality  of  cases  those  charges  have  to  be 
wrenched  from  a  scanty  pittance. 

The  Cuck-stool "  was  used  in  the  Saxon  times 
for  the  ordeal  of  plunging  or  for  putting  convicts 
to  death  by  drowning,"  but  in  more  modern 
times  it  was  used  as  a  punishment  for  brewers 
and  bakers  for  transgressing  their  laws,  and  to 
punish  common  scolds  and  common  prostitutes, 
and  "cuckhold"  makers  by  ducking  them  over 
head  and  ears  in  some  stinking  water.  The 
cucking-stool  has  long  ceased  to  be  a  mode  of 
punishment  in  Goosnargh.  (I  would  it  were 
revived  for  the  very  idea  of  the  thing  is  truly 
rich,  and  I  am  sure  it  might  be  made  very  use- 
ful). Our  forefathers  selected  a  pit  at  the  south 
end  of  Inglewhite  Green  for  their  ducking  pond. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  249 

The  pit  has  lately  been  filled  up  but  was  known 
to  the  last  as  "  Cuck-stool  pit,"  and  60  years  ago 
some  of  the  oldest  inhabitants  could  remember 
the  upright  shaft  of  the  instrument  standing  at 
the  brink  of  the  said  pit,  the  open-bottomed 
chair  and  transverse  beam  being  usually  kept  in 
the  care  of  the  tithing  man  till  necessity  called 
it  into  use. 

We  see  many  alterations  in  systems,  but  all 
alterations  are  not  improvements  ! 

Penance-sheet.  The  penance-sheet  fell  into 
disuse  here  about  a  century  ago  ;  it  was  chiefly 
used  to  punish  faithless  beaux — a  class  of  offen- 
ders who  now-a-days  rather  glory  in  their  shame 
than  think  it  any  evil  or  disgrace.  The  offender 
being  condemned  to  stand  in  some  conspicuous 
place  in  the  Church  covered  over  with  a  sheet 
during  the  time  of  Divine  service  ;  and  if  anyone 
merits  a  public  exposure  I  beg  to  say  it  is  of  all 
others  the  man  who  perseveringly  employs  a)l 
the  little  arts  of  which  he  is  master  to  raise  a 
confidence  in  a  virtuous  woman's  mind  with  an 
intention  of  deceiving  her. 

Tradition  relates  that  one  Edward  Makinson, 
then  owner  and  occupier  of  the  General  Elliot 
(now  "Grapes"  public  house  Goosnargh)  was 
the  last  person  that  was  doomed  to  do  penance 
in  Goosnargh  Church,  and  on  leaving  the  Church 
after  his  public  exposure  he  is  said  to  have  made 
use  of  the  following  words: — 

"  I've  fulfilled  the  law, 
But  I  know  my  own  know." 

Thereby  intimating  that  the  "bairn"  was  none 
of  his  own. 


250  GOOSNARGH:     - 

It  is  also  told  of  the  said  Edward  Makinson 
that  he  performed  the  daring  feat  of  walking 
round  on  the  top  of  the  battlements  of  Goos- 
nargh  Church  steeple  with  his  child  Edward 
Makinson  junr.  (late  of  Gin  Bow  Entry,  Preston), 
in  his  arms. 

Blackstone,  in  his  commentaries  of  the  Laws 
of  England,  when  treating  upon  nuisances  and 
referring  to  the  cucking-stool  says : — 

''  Lastly,  a  common  scold,  communis  vixatrix 
(for  law  latin  confines  it  to  the  feminine 
gender)  is  a  public  nuisance  to  her  neigh- 
bourhood. For  which  offence  she  may  be 
indicted,  and  if  convicted,  shall  be  sen- 
tenced to  be  placed  in  a  certain  engine  of 
correction  called  the  trebucket  castigatory 
or  cucking-stool,  which  in  the  Saxon 
language  is  said  to  signify  the  scolding 
stool,  though  now  it  is  frequently  cor- 
rupted into  ducking-stool,  because  the 
residue  of  the  judgment  is  that  when  she 
is  so  placed  therein  she  shall  be  plunged 
in  the  water  for  her  punishment." 

An  old  writer  says  : — 

"  Of  members  ye  ton°;e  is  worst  or  best, 
An  yll  tonge  oft  doeth  breede  unrest." 

Among  the  barbarous  customs  may  be  men- 
tioned bull  baiting,  bear  baiting,  badger  baiting, 
cock  fighting,  and  other  similar  pastimes  once  so 
common  in  this  neighbourhood.  As  late  as  1726 
the  Corporation  of  Preston  provided  a  bull  to  be 
baited.  A  stone  may  be  seen  in  the  old  market 
place  to  which  the  ring  was  fixed  for  securing 
the  bull.  Tradespeople  use  to  sit  in  the  square 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  251 

drinking  and  smoking,  and  watching  the  attack 
of  the  dogs  on  the  poor  animals.  Cock  fighting 
happily  has  been  discontinued  (except  on  the  sly) 
for  many  years  in  this  neighbourhood  ;  this 
barbarous  practice  was  common  here  riot  many 
years  ago.  The  May  pole,  the  outbreak  into 
beauty  which  nature  makes  at  the  end  of  April 
and  the  beginning  of  May',  exacts  so  joyful  and 
admiring  a  feeling  in  the  human  breast  that 
there  is  no  wonder  the  event  should  be  kept  up. 
In  the  1 6th  century  it  was  customary  for  middle 
and  humble  classes  to  go  out  at  an  early  hour 
to  gather  flowers — hawthorn  branches,  for  domes- 
tic rejoicings  and  decorations  of  their  houses : 
they  called  this  ceremony  the  "  bringing  home 
of  the  May."  They  spoke  of  the  expedition  to 
the  woods  as  "  going  a  maying,1'  and  one  of  the 
party  was  crowned  with  flowers  as  the  "  Queen 
of  the  May."  Then  the  people  raised  a  large 
pole  literally  covered  with  May,  and  erected 
the  same  in  some  public  place,  around  which 
were  rural  dances  and  general  rejoicing.  At  the 
present  little  is  done  here  in  recognition  of  May, 
except  to  decorate  cart  horses. 

Blount  says  the  Cuck-stool  or  Ducking-stool  is 
a  corruption  for  Choking-stool,  because  women 
plunged  into  the  water  by  this  means  were  com- 
monly suffocated.  The  Tumbril,  another  instru- 
ment of  punishment ;  this  was  a  two-wheeled 
cart  in  which  offenders  were  borne  through 
towns ;  it  was  considered  a  more  honourable 
mode  oi  punishment  than  the  Cuckingor  Ducking 
stool,  and  was  used  for  ladies  of  higher  rank  ; 
it  was  also  used  as  a  punishment  of  disgrace  and 
infamy.  Millers  when  they  stole  corn  were 


252  GOOSNARGH  : 

subjected  to  it.  People  were  sometimes  fastened 
by  an  iron  chain  and  conveyed  bare-headed  amid 
the  din  and  cry  of  the  populace  through  the 
principal  streets  of  a  town.  Another  instru- 
ment of  punishment  called  the  Scolds'  Bridle  or 
Brank,  fixed  on  the  head,  and  used  at  times  when 
the  ducking  or  tumbril  had  not  the  desired  effect, 
and  was  of  later  date  than  the  ducking-stool. 
The  brank  was  also  used  to  punish  landlords  for 
brewing  bad  ale,  and  for  those  people  who 
would  not  pay  their  debts. 

The  Pillory  or  Neck  Stocks  was  also  used  as  a 
punishment.  This  consisted  of  two  pieces  of 
wood  fixed  on  a  post,  and  across  the  centre  of  the 
connected  parts  there  were  three  round  holes  for 
the  hands  and  head,  slightly  raised  from  the 
ground,  to  give  greater  prominence  for  a  repre- 
sentative. The  pillory  was  placed  in  public  situ- 
ations, in  order  to  give  greater  shame.  This  only 
fell  into  disuse  in  this  neighbourhood  about  the 
year  1814.  In  1837  an  Act  was  passed  abolishing 
this  mode  of  punishment. 

Many  other  punishments  in  former  times  were 
in  use,  for  instance  the  Whirligig,  a  circular  cage, 
in  which  the  delinquent  was  placed,  and  this  was 
moved  swiftly  round  on  a  pivot.  The  whirligig 
was  mainly  used  for  offenders  in  the  British 
army.  The  Brand,  for  felons,  was  a  diminutive 
representation  of  a  gallows,  and  was  used  before 
the  invention  of  the  present  mode  of  execution. 
This  representation  was  stamped  upon  each 
offender.  It  is  said  that  this  mark  when  applied 
rendered  a  man  infamous  for  life.  Stocks  were 
another  kind  of  punishment  (as  before  observed), 
and  were  much  used  at  one  time.  They  consisted 


PAST    AND   PRESENT.  253 

of  two  framed  horizontal  pieces  of  wood,  in  which 
two  holes  were  cut  for  the  feet  of  the  delinquent, 
and  were  set  apart  for  drunken  people  and  such 
like.  A  rogue's  post,  too,  was  commonly  used, 
and  at  this  post  men  were  publicly  flogged. 

About  the  year  1600  a  number  of  curious  bye- 
laws  were  in  force.  One  directed  that  every 
householder  "  shall  keep  his  street  doors  shut  in 
all  the  time  of  Divine  service  and  sermons  upon 
the  sabbath  days  and  other  festival  days,  and 
shall  not  suffer  his.  her,  or  their  children,  servants 
or  family,  or  any  of  them  being  above  the  age  of 
seven  years,  to  play  in  the  open  streets  at  any 
game  or  play  whatever,  or  even  to  sit  at  the  doors 
in  the  streets."  A  fine  of  fourpence  was  imposed 
for  every  breach  of  the  law. 

At  Frome  in  Somersetshire,  a  man  and  his  wife 
were  fined  for  walking  during  Divine  service. 
Two  sweethearts  were  fined  for  a  similar  offence ; 
and  a  boy  was  whipped  for  swinging  on  a  gate 
on  Sunday  afternoon.  How  different  now-a-days. 

Sedan  Chairs  were  introduced  into  England 
about  the  year  1600,  and  up  to  about  1825  were 
in  use.  These  were  used  to  take  the  gentry  to 
church  for  service,  or  to  be  married.  Little 
children  were,  when  dead,  carried  to  the  church 
to  be  buried.  A  shilling  an  hour  or  a  guinea  a 
week  were  the  common  prices  for  the  sedan  and 
the  two  bearers. 

GUNPOWDER    PLOT. 

The  anniveisary  of  gunpowder  plot  which  was 
formed  in  the  reign  of  James  I.,  and  discovered 
on  the  5th  of  November,  1604,  is  in  common  / 


254  GOOSNARGH  : 

with  all  other  parts  of  England  celebrated  here 
annually  on  the  5th  November.  Bonfires  are  lit 
up  in  various  parts  of  the  township  principally 
by  boys  who  go  a  begging  fuel  for  the  purpose, 
saying  or  singing — 

"A  stick  or  a  stake  for  King  James's  sake." 

Some  shooting  yet  takes  place  on  the  anni- 
versary of  the  gunpowder  plot  and  an  effigy  of 
the  Pope  is  sometimes  set  up  in  the  midst  of  the 
fire  as  a  target  for  the  gunners  to  fire  at.  It  was 
formerly  the  custom  on  this  occasion  for  the 
churchwardens  of  Goosnargh  to  provide,  at  the 
public  cost,  a  pound  of  powder  for  the  villagers 
to  fire,  their  muskets  with  ;  they  also  supplied 
the  ringers  with  a  liberal  supply  of  beer  to 
"shoot"  the  bells.  Herein  the  wardens  stretched 
their  powers  to  perpetuate  a  foolish  custom. 

Divine  service  was  performed  annually  in  the 
Protestant  Churches  on  the  5th  November  accor- 
ding to  the  service  appointed  for  the  day. 

CHRISTMAS   DAY. 

The  anniversary  of  the  Birth  of  our  Blessed 
Saviour  is  celebrated  here  on  the  25th  day  of 
December  (but  it  is  quite  uncertain  on  what  day 
of  the  year  He  was  born),  and  Divine  service  is 
performed  in  nearly  all  the  Protestant  and  Roman 
Catholic  Churches  and  Chapels  in  England  on 
that  day,  but  in  general  there  are  but  very  thin 
congregations  ;  people  here  (to  their  shame  be 
it  said)  make  it  more  a  day  of  feasting  and  revel- 
ling than  a  day  of  devotion  and  innocent  and 
sober  rejoicing. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT.  255 

COURT  LEET. 

The  inhabitants  of  Goosnargh  have  not  the 
benefit  of  a  court  leet,  and  in  consequence  of 
there  being  generally  a  considerable  fall  for  the 
water  one  is  not  so  much  required,  yet  there  are 
cases  where  such  a  court  would  be  useful.  Court 
Leets  were  formerly  held  by  the  sheriff  in  every 
county,  and  were  criminal  courts  of  very  great 
importance — all  cases  being  tried  thereat  from 
eaves  dropping  to  high  treason  :  they  formerly 
had  and  in  many  cases  still  maintain  two  singu- 
lar characteristics — the  absence  of  fees  and  lawyers. 
The  business  of  Court  Leets  is  now  generally 
confined  to  the  superintendence  and  regulation 
of  the  clearance  of  ditches  and  watercourses,  and 
act  as  a  preventative  of  one  man's  negligence 
swamping  another  man's  grounds. 


TRADE. 

Goosnargh-with-Newsham  is  an  agricultural 
district  with  a  smattering  of  cotton  handloom 
weaving.  Before  the  introduction  of  steam  power 
into  our  manufactories  a  considerable  business 
was  done  here  in  the  spinning  and  weaving  of 
cottons,  linen  and  woollen  cloths,  part  by  water 
power — (see  Inglewhite) — but  chiefly  by  the  hand 
wheel  and  hand  loom,  and  in  those  primitive 
days  the  first  ladies  of  the  land  thought  it  not 
scorn  to  put  their  hands  to  the  wheel.  What 
saith  Solomon  of  a  good  wife  : — "  Who  can  find  a 
virtuous  woman  ?  for  her  price  is  far  above 
rubies.  The  heart  of  her  husband  doth  safely 
trust  in  her,  so  that  he  shall  have  no  need  of 


256  GOOSNARGH  : 

spoil.  She  will  do  him  good  and  not  evil  all  the 
days  of  his  life.  She  seeketh  wool  and  flax,  and 
worketh  willingly  with  her  hands.  She  is  like 
the  merchants'  ships  ;  she  bringeth  her  food 
from  afar.  She  riseth  also  while  it  is  yet  night, 
and  giveth  meat  to  her  household  and  a  portion 
to  her  maidens.  She  considereth  a  field  and 
buyeth  it ;  with  the  fruit  of  her  hands  she  plant- 
eth  a  vineyard.  She  girdeth  her  loins  with 
strength  and  strengtheneth  her  arms.  She  per- 
ceiveth  that  her  merchandise  is  good,  her  candle 
goeth  not  out  by  night.  She  layeth  her  hands 
to  the  spindle  and  her  hands  hold  the  distaff.  She 
stretcheth  out  her  hand  to  the  poor ;  yea,  she 
reacheth  forth  her  hands  to  the  needy.  She  is 
not  afraid  of  the  snow  for  her  household  ;  for 
all  her  household  are  clothed  with  scarlet.  She 
maketh  herself  coverings  of  tapestry  ;  her 
clothing  is  silk  and  purple.  Her  husband  is 
known  in  the  gates,  when  he  sitteth  among  the 
elders  of  the  land.  She  maketh  fine  linen,  and 
selleth  it ;  and  delivereth  girdles  unto  the  mer- 
chant. Strength  and  honour  are  her  clothing  ; 
and  she  shall  rejoice  in  time  to  come.  She 
openeth  her  mouth  with  wisdom ;  and  in  her 
tongue  is  the  law  of  kindness.  She  looketh  well 
to  the  ways  of  her  household,  and  eateth  not  the 
bread  of  idleness.  Her  children  arise  up,  and 
call  her  blessed ;  her  husband  also,  and  he  prais- 
eth  her.  Many  daughters  have  done  virtuously, 
but  thou  excellest  them  all.  Favour  is  deceitful, 
and  beauty  is  vain  ;  but  a  woman  that  feareth 
the  Lord,  she  shall  be  praised.  Give  her  of  the 
fruit  of  her  hands,  and  let  her  own  works  praise 
her  in  the  gates." — Proverbs,  c.  31. 


PAST    AND   PRESENT.  257 

In  law  all  unmarried  women  are  termed  spin- 
sters, which  had  its  origin  thus  :  In  the  olden 
times  no  young  female  was  considered  in  a  position 
to  marry  until  she  had  spun  sufficient  for  the 
outfitting  of  her  household. 


DOMESDAY   BOOK. 

Goosnargh  and  Newsham,  as  before  stated,  are 
both  mentioned  in  Domesday  Book,  but  it  ap- 
pears that  when  that  ancient  document  was 
compiled  they  were  distinct  townships  or  "  vills." 
How  they  became  united  or  how  long  they  have 
been  connected  no  record  appears.  At  the  time 
of  the  Conqueror's  survey  the  whole  of  the 
Hundred  of  Amounderness  belonged  to  the  Earl 
Tosti,  and  in  each  of  the  districts  of  Goosnargh 
and  Newsham  he  had  but  one  carucate  (one 
hundred  acres,  20  feet  to  the  perch)  to  be  taxed, 
the  rest  was  waste. 

Of  Domesday  Book,  Baines  in  his  History  of 
Lancashire  says  : — "  William  the  Conqueror 
having  reduced  the  country  to  a  sudden  repose, 
caused  a  survey  to  be  taken  of  all  the  lands  in 
the  Kingdom.  This  survey  was  commenced  in 
1080,  and  completed  in  six  years,  and  registered 
in  a  national  record  called  Domesday  Book,  in 
which  the  extent  of  land  in  each  district,  the 
state  it  was  in,  whether  meadow,  pasture,  wood 
or  arable  ;  the  name  of  the  proprietor,  the 
tenure  by  which  it  was  held,  and  the  value  at 
which  it  was  estimated,  were  all  duly  entered, 
and  is  undoubtedly  the  best  monument  to  the 
memory  of  the  Conqueror." 
Q 


258  GOOSNARGH  : 

To  become  more  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
the  English  land  and  the  wealth  of  the  people, 
whether  French  or  English,  it  is  recorded  that 
William  caused  a  record  to  be  made  of  all  the 
estates  with  their  possessions,  large  or  small,  from 
which  we  learn  that  about  half  the  lands  of  the 
Kingdom  were  at  this  time  in  the  hands  of 
spiritual  powers.  This  was  a  most  laborious  work, 
and  the  assistance  of  the  Church,  through  its 
bishops  and  parochial  clergy,  were  called  in  for 
its  compilation.  It  is  said  that  not  an  ox,  or 
cow  or  pig  was  passed  by  in  this  wonderful 
inventory.  What  the  lands  were  worth  in  pre- 
ceding reigns,  their  present  and  past  holders,  how 
many  churches  and  monastries  there  were,  and 
how  they  were  provided  for,  with  a  vast  amount 
of  other  information,  all  of  which  was  classified 
in  such  way  that  William  could  at  once  tell  the 
wealth  of  the  Kingdom,  and  who  were  the  most 
powerful  men  in  it,  and  their  claims  to  the  estates 
they  held.  This  record  is  known  as  the  Domes- 
day Book.  It  was  so  called  because  men's  claims 
to  estates  were  judged  from  it.  This  great  survey 
was  finished  by  Easter,  1086. 

As  the  result  of  this  survey,  all  the  land  owners 
•\vere  summoned  to  meet  the  king  on  Salisbury 
Plain  in  August  of  that  same  year,  and  were 
made  to  take  an  oath  of  allegiance  to  King 
William,  and  swear  to  obey  him  and  fight  for 
him  before  all  other  men.  Such  services  to  be 
rendered  in  proportion  to  their  registered  possess- 
ions, whether  they  were  lay  owners  or  ecclesias- 
tical possessors,  because  hitherto  the  spirituality 
had  furnished  very  little  to  the  national  needs, 
most  of  their  property  having  been  exempt. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  259 

PUBLIC-HOUSES   AND   DRINKING   HABITS. 

There  are  six  houses  in  this  township  licenced 
for  the  sale  of  British  and  foreign  spirits.  The 
signs  of  the  public-houses  are : — The  Grapes  Inn 
(formerly  General  Elliott),  Green  Man,  Black 
Bull,  Buck  Horns,  the  Dog  and  Partridge  and 
the  Queen.  Upon  the  whole  the  inhabitants  of 
this  district  may  be  said  to  be  a  sober  people, 
and  perhaps  as  regards  their  social  condition  the 
greatest  improvement  during  the  last  fifty  years 
has  been  the  gradual  bias  to  temperance  in  the 
use  of  the  "liquid  fire."  Changes  here  in  the 
proprietorship  of  the  land ;  the  reverses  of  the 
fortunes  and  standings  of  families  which  have 
been  caused  by  the  madding  bowl  tell  a  sad  tale 
indeed.  Not  very  many  years  ago  there  existed 
a  goodly  number  of  yeomen  in  this  township, 
and  singular  to  say  (that  otherwise  honourable 
class)  were  nearly  all  addicted  to  the  glass,  and 
in  consequence  brought  themselves  and  their 
families  to  ruin.  The  number  of  statesmen  who 
are  content  and  privileged 

"  To  breathe  their  native  air  in  their  own  grounds  " 
are  now  comparatively  rare. 

And  notwithstanding  the  great  improvement 
that  has  taken  place  in  the  drinking  habits  of 
the  people,  it  must  be  obvious  that  the  cup  so 
pregnant  with  evil  is  yet  frequently  called  into 
requisition  or  six  houses  would  not  be  kept  open 
for  the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors  in  this  township, 
and  the  worst  feature  in  the  matter  is  that  the 
best  of  days  is  perverted  to  the  worst  of  purposes 
— Sunday  is  the  landlord's  weekly  fair. 
Q2 


260  GOOSNARGH : 

English  laws  are  very  good  upon  the  whole, 
but  there  are  some  strange  pages.  A  shopkeeper 
may  be  fined  for  selling  a  pennyworth  of  toffy 
on  the  Sabbath  Day,  whilst  the  publican  can 
throw  open  his  house  the  greatest  part  of  the 
Lord's  Day  for  the  free  sale  of  one  of  the  most  per- 
nicious commodities  ever  brought  into  requisi- 
tion. How  long  will  this  anomaly  disgrace  the 
statute  book  ?  The  greatest  boon  that  the 
British  Legislature  could  confer  upon  their 
country  would  be  to  close  the  public-house  for 
the  sale  of  intoxicating  drinks  on  the  Sabbath 
Day.  Closing  the  public-houses  at  10  o'clock  at 
night  has  been  a  good  step  in  advance.  I  hope 
we  may  soon  have  another — the  abolition  of  the 
grocers'  spirit  licence. 

HARD   TIMES 

Just  now  we  hear  much  said  about  bad  times, 
and  what  wonder  that  there  should  be  hard 
times  when  we  have  an  anuual  drink  bill  of 
^"136,000,000,  and  another  of  ^"100,000,000  to 
pay  in  various  ways  on  account  of  the  drinking 
habits  of  the  people — and  what  should  I  put  down 
to  the  score  of  snuff  and  tobacco  ? 

GROCERS'  SHOPS. 

Thirty-five  years  ago  there  were  eight  grocers' 
shops  in  this  township,  at  present  there  are  only 
three ;  a  decrease  in  the  population  and  the 
practice  of  so  many  grocers  of  neighbouring 
towns  bringing  provisions  into  the  district  have 
brought  about  this  change 


PAST  AND  PRESENT.  26 1 

TOBACCO. 

Tobacco  is  very  generally  used  here,  but  prin- 
cipally by  the  male  sex.  "The  pot's  companion  " 
and  a  noxious  drug,  no  doubt  greatly  detrimental 
to  health,  especially  to  persons  of  spare  habit  and 
weak  constitutions.  The  use  of  tobacco  has  been 
often  opposed  and  from  high  and  influential 
quarters,  but  to  very  little  purpose ;  even 
Royalty  has  arrayed  itself  against  it ;  King 
James  I.  took  up  arms  and  issued  and  circulated 
the  following  mandate : — "  This  noxious  drug 
tends  to  a  general  and  new  corruption  both  of 
men's  bodies  and  manners." 

He  also  wrote  and  published  two  books  against 
the  use  of  it,  in  which  he  described  it  as  u  the 
breath  of  hell ! "  One  of  the  books  was  entitled 
the  "  Counterblast  to  Tobacco ;  "  but  unfortunately 
his  "counterblast"  had  not  much  counter  effect 
upon  the  blast  of  the  pipe  or  five  million  pounds 
would  not  be  spent  in  the  United  Kingdom  on 
that  nasty  weed  in  a  year  ;  and  after  all — this 
high-pressure  puff  somehow  or  other — I  don't 
dislike  to  see  an  aged  man  in  his  arm-chair  and 
own  chimney  corner  enjoying  his  pipe  after  his 
day's  labour  is  finished  ;  but  how  common  and 
how  disgusting  to  see  a  young  lad  with  his  hands 
in  his  breeches  pockets  and  a  short  black  pipe  in 
his  mouth.  Robert  and  William  Chambers  in 
their  valuable  work  "  Information  for  the 
People,"  rank  it  amongst  intoxicating  drugs, 
and  say :  "  Between  the  habitual  smoker  and  the 
habitual  dram  drinker,  there  can  be  but  little 
difference.* 

*  King  James  in  his  "  Counterblast  "  is  hard  upon  smokers.      He  calls 
smoking  a  vile,  stinking  custom,  borrowed  from  the   beastly,  slavish 


262  GOOSNARGH  : 

SNUFF. 

Snuff-taking  is  not  very  common  in  this 
neighbourhood,  but  the  females  seem  rather 
more  fond  of  a  pinch  than  the  male  sex,  but 
"  happen "  they  will  not  like  telling  so.  A 
practice  when  carried  to  excess  disfigures  the 
countenance,  begrimes  the  raiment,  hurts  the 
breathing  and  is  a  great  waste  of  time  and 
money ;  and  yet  candour  compels  me  here  to 
soften  down  again  and  admit  that  when  the 
mind  is  on  the  poise,  a  pinch  of  snuff  may  some- 
times give  it  a  spur  and  suggest  a  good  idea.  An 
old  anecdote  is  related  of  a  snuff-taker  asking  a 
learned  physician  if  snuff- taking  would  injure  the 
brain,  who  replied,  "  No,  snuff-takers  have  no 
brain."  This  anecdote  though  not  strictly  true 
(for  some  of  the  most  gifted  men,  not  excepting 
Napoleon,  have  been  great  snuff-takers,  yet  it 
conveys  a  good  moral. 

GAME. 

There  is  a  great  variety  of  game  here,  but  for- 
tunately for  the  farmers  it  is  nowhere  at  present 
found  in  great  abundance  (if  we  except  rabbits), 
and  as  the  ownership  of  the  land  is  so  much 
divided,  the  New  Game  Act  which  allows  of 
farmers  killing  hares  on  their  own  premises,  will 
always  tend  to  keep  that  species  at  least  in  check. 
It  has  been  calculated  that  a  hare  (on  grass  land) 
costs  43.  6d.  a  year  keeping  and  a  rabbit  2s.  gd., 
a  calculation  I  think  rather  under  than  over  the 

Indians — poor,  wild,  barbarous  men.  And  about  as  much  may  be  said  of 
snuff-taking — a  nasty,  wasteful  habit  ;  it  seals  up  noses  and  converts 
clear,  ringing  voices  into  "  snaffles." 


PAST  AND  PRESENT.  263 

mark,  but  of  course  that  will  materially  depend 
on  the  value  of  the  land  they  are  kept  upon. 
Feathered  game  are  not  so  objectionable  as 
woolly  game,  for  they  do  some  service  towards 
their  tooth  by  keeping  the  insect  tribe  in  check. 
The  running  game  are  of  no  service  whatever 
until  they  are  placed  upon  the  table.  The  species 
of  game  here  are  hares,  rabbits,  moorgame,  par- 
tridge, snipe,  woodcock  and  landrail. 

HUNTING   AND  COURSING. 

Hunting  and  Coursing,  though  once  both  very 
common  here,  are  now  but  little  known,  and  as 
they  have  both  a  good  share  of  cruelty  and  out- 
law in  their  composition,  especially  the  former, 
and  are  great  encouragers  of  idleness  and  dissi- 
pation, away  with  them. 

POACHING. 

Assuredly  the  worst  feature  in  the  character 
of  the  people  of  Goosnargh  is  their  addiction  to 
poaching.  I  fancy  there  are  but  few  districts 
according  to  the  population  that  have  produced 
more  clever  poachers  than  this  township.  A 
most  baleful,  defaming,  impoverishing  vice  it  is  ; 
and  although  no  crime  is  more  discountenanced 
by  all  influential  and  rightly-thinking  men,  yet 
it  is  practiced  in  defiance  of  all  law  and  opposi- 
tion, and  seems  to  be  hereditary,  often  descend- 
ing from  father  to  son  (but  perhaps  more  by  ex- 
ample than  by  blood)  through  many  generations. 
Perhaps  if  the  word  "  poacher  "  had  never  been 
invented  and  the  word  "game-thief"  used  in 


264  GOOSNARGH  : 

its  stead  it  would  have  had  a  better  effect,  but  as 
bad  as  this  practice  is  yet  a  great  change  for  the 
better  has  been  brought  about  in  the  last  fifty 
years. 

FISH,    FISHERIES    AND    FISHERS. 

The  pond  fish  here  are  tench,  perch,  roach, 
bream,  carp  and  eels.  Few  are  preserved,  and  in 
consequence  (with  the  exception  of  the  eels)  they 
are  generally  very  small  and  scarcely  worth 
angling  for. 

The  only  brook  fish  are  trout  and  eels,  and  of 
the  former,  if  there  be  high  floods  in  November 
so  as  to  enable  the  milters  and  spawneis  to 
ascend  the  small  streams,  and  those  murderous, 
maraudering  fellows  with  their  lanterns  and 
spears,  coculus-indicus  and  other  fuddling  ingre- 
dients keep  out  of  the  brooks,  there  is  always  a 
good  supply  of  fine,  well-fed,  delicious  fish  the 
following  spring,  and  to  those  who  have  a  taste  for 
the  solitary,  contemplative  art,  they  afford  a 
pleasant,  innocent  and  refreshing  recreation;  but 
whilst  we  have  hosts  of  pond  fishers  of  all  de- 
grees of  proficiency,  we  have  but  a  meagre 
squad  of  brook  anglers,  and  those  generally  of  a 
clumsy  order.  I  would  we  had  more  of  good 
craftsmen  in  the  solitary  art  though  it  were  to  my 
own  rivalship ;  for  alas !  how  little  does  the  poor 
Bachanalian — who  flees  to  the  pot  and  the  pipe 
and  the  noisy  ale  bench  to  drown  his  cares  or 
perhaps  to  get  out  of  the  way  of  an  illtempered 
wife — know  of  real  pleasure  in  comparison  to  the 
angler,  who  can  sit  down  after  his  day's  toil 
on  some  flowery  bank  beside  the  purling  stream 
and  heartily  sing — 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  265 

"  Welcome,  pure  thoughts  !  welcome,  ye  silent  groves  I 
These  guests,  these  courts,  my  soul  most  dearly  loves  ! 
Now  the  wing'd  people  of  the  sky  shall  sing 
My  cheerful  anthems  to  the  gladsome  spring. 
Here  dwell  no  hateful  looks,  no  palace  cares  ; 
No  broken  vows  dwell  here,  no  pale-faced  fears  ; 
Then  here  I'll  sit  and  sigh  my  hot  love's  folly, 
And  learn  t'  affect  a  holy  melancholy  ; 
And  if  contentment  be  a  stranger,  then 
I'll  ne'er  look  for  it  but  in  Heaven  again." 


ROOKERIES   AND   ROOKS. 

Formerly  we  had  three  rookeries  in  this  town- 
ship, but  the  woodman  (fie  for  shame)  has  pruned 
so  near  that  the  rooks  have  been  forced  to  beat 
a  retreat  and  pitch  their  camps  in  more  friendly 
quarters,  however  there  are  a  goodly  number  of 
rooks  in  this  neighbourhood— very  useful  and 
almost  indispensable  birds  which  tend  materially 
to  keep  the  insect  tribe  in  check. 

SMALL      BIRDS. 

There  is  a  great  variety  of  small  birds  in  this 
neighbourhood — a  tiny  chirping  race  whose  ser- 
vices I  have  long  advocated — and  as  it  is  a  subject 
on  which  I  am  rather  sanguine  and  one  on  which 
I  believe  much  prejudice  exists,  I  would  rather 
trust  another  to  speak  in  this  place  than  my 
self,  and  will  therefore  take  the  liberty  to  copy 
the  following  letter  (with  the  sentiment  of  which 
I  perfectly  agree)  from  the  pages  of  the  Preston 
Pilot  of  October  6th,  1845,  which  was  inserted 
by  an  anonymous  writer  in  support  of  a  commu- 
nication of  mine  on  the  subject  of  small  birds,  in 
the  said  paper  of  the  2gth  Sept.,  1845. 


266  GOOSNARGH: 

A  few  words  in  favour  of  birds  and  against 
anti-bird  clubs. 

To  THE  EDITOR  OP  THE  PRESTON  PILOT. 

SIR, — The  letter  of  Richard  Cookson  (of  Goos- 
nargh)  in  which  he  offers  a  defence  of 
those  birds,  which  by  the  unreflecting 
farmer  are  too  often  treated  as  enemies, 
deserves  the  attention  of  those  who  in  al- 
most every  country  township  encourage 
anti-bird  clubs.  These  associations  are 
upon  the  whole  more  mischievous  than 
beneficial.  Grubs  and  insects  of  various 
kinds  are  the  real  enemies  of  the  farmer, 
whilst  the  insectivorous  birds  are  his 
allies,  his  enemies  being  their  favourite 
food.  At  the  head  of  his  army  of  allies 
stands  the  rook,  which  seeks  with  great 
avidity  for  that  noxious  creature  the  wire- 
worm  and  other  insects.  The  presence  of 
a  number  of  rooks  on  a  ploughed  field  is  a 
pretty  sure  indication  that  the  wireworm 
&c.  may  be  found.  Wagtails,  robins, 
blackbirds  and  thrushes  are  likewise  fond 
of  the  wireworm,  and  sparrows  also 
it  is  believed  have  a  similar  taste.  The 
same  may  be  said  of  pheasants,  lapwings, 
and  partridge,  and  the  crops  of  the  two 
former  have  frequently  been  found  filled 
with  wireworms.  With  respect  to 
lapwings  (sometimes  called  "  pewits  "  and 
"  twists")  it  is  said  that  one  of  these  birds 
will  eat  a  hundred  a  day.  In  a  paper  by 
Mr.  Curtis,  F.L.S.,  in  a  late  number  of  the 
Journal  of  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  267 

of  England,  it  is  stated  : — "  In  the  marshy 
districts  of  our  eastern  countries  this  bird 
was  formerly  exceedingly  abundant  as  well 
as  the  ruff  and  the  reeve,  but  the  gun  and  the 
nesthunter  have  so  thinned  their  num- 
bers that  the  lapwing  is  becoming  scarce, 
and  the  latter  have  almost  abandoned  our 
shores,  and  as  might  be  expected  the 
wireworms  seem  to  be  increasing  rapidly 
in  such  localities  "  Whether  the 

destruction  of  late  years  of  whole  fields 
of  corn  at  Oxborough,  near  Stoke  in  Nor- 
folk, is  attributable  to  the  absence  of  these 
birds,  I  cannot  say ;  but  it  is  certain  that 
the  plover  formerly  abounded  in  that 
neighbourhood,  and  now  scarcely  a  pair 
can  be  seen."  I  refer  to  the  wireworm  in 
particular  because  it  is  the  very  worst 
enemy  which  the  farmer  has,  especially 
as  regards  his  turnip  crops.  But  these 
crops  are  not  alone  subject  to  the  ravages 
of  this  destructive  creature,  oats,  barley, 
wheat  and  cabbages  are  liable  to  its 
attacks,  as  well  as  the  potato  crops, 
though  at  one  time  it  was  questioned 
whether  the  potato  ever  suffered  from  the 
wireworm.  Wireworms  (which  are  the 
larvae  of  some  species  of  beetles)  may  be 
found  almost  everywhere,  and  indeed  attack 
almost  every  sort  of  crop,  though  there 
are  some  vegetables  which  they  prefer  to 
others.  It  is  a  common  saying  that  "  a 
good  crop  seldom  comes  after  clover  root." 
Clover  is  a  plant  which  gives  great  pro- 
tection to  the  insect,  in  the  roots  of  which 


268  GOOSNARGH : 

it  is  often  bred  ;  this  may  account  for  the 
frequent  failure  of  the  succeeding  crop. 
Many  contrivances  have  been  resorted  to 
for  the  destruction  of  wirworms,  or  the 
checking  of  their  increase.  Soot,  lime 
and  salt  it  is  said  will  kill  them  or  drve 
them  away.  As  they  cannot  live  without 
moisture  the  advocates  of  draining  will 
find  an  additional  argument  for  that  most 
useful  process  in  its  tendency  to  limit  the 
number  of  these  insects.  But  to  revert  to 
birds  (particularly  those  before  speci- 
fied) as  they  are  the  natural  enemies  of 
wirewonns  the  wholesale  slaughter  of 
them  by  the  members  of  the  bird  clubs  is 
absurd.  The  robin  I  should  observe 
fortunately  enjoys  a  special  protection. 
In  some  places  rewards  were  formerly 
given  to  idle  lads  or  men  (who  would  have 
been  better  engaged  if  otherwise  em- 
ployed) for  killing  "  small  birds."  The 
indiscriminate  persecution  which  is  thus 
kept  up  is  both  mischievous  and  ridiculous. 
The  hated  "small  birds"  protect  fruit 
trees  and  various  crops  from  much  injury 
from  insects  of  various  kinds.  I  am  not 
without  authority  in  saying  that  two 
sparrows  and  their  young  have  been 
known  to  destroy  3,000  caterpillers  in  a 
week.  Instinct  is  almost  unerring,  and 
in  ninety-nine  cases  out  of  one  hundred 
I  believe  that  the  birds  which  attack  the 
bloom  of  fruit  trees  confine  their  attention 
to  those  buds  in  which  there  is  a  noxious 
insect,  which  would  have  destroyed  the 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  269 

bud  if  it  had  not  itself  been  destroyed  by 
its  feathered  adversary.  No  immediate 
loss  therefore  is  sustained  but  a  positive 
good  is  done  in  checking  the  propagation 
of  an  insect  pest.  The  extensive  ravages 
of  insects  are  well  known  to  entomologists. 
I  might  refer  to  some  remarkable  ex- 
amples were  not  this  letter  already  very 
long.  In  no  irreverent  spirit  do  I  quote 
the  following  passage  from  the  inspired 
volume: — "And  I  will  restore  to  you  the 
years  that  the  locust  hath  eaten,  the  canker 
worm,  and  the  caterpillar,  and  the 
palmerworm,  my  great  army  which  I 
sent  among  you." — Joel  2c.  25v. 

Two  arguments  may  be  urged  against 
the  recommendations  of  those  who  wish 
the  feathered  tribe  to  be  spared.  First 
that  if  they  were  not  kept  within  bounds 
they  would  be  as  destructive  as  insects. 
Secondly  that  they  would  be  so  destruc- 
tive that  the  killing  of  them  is  a  matter 
of  necestity.  The  answer  to  the  first 
argument  is  that  the  birds'  friends  do  not 
argue  in  favour  of  an  excessive  number  of 
their  favourites  (if  an  excess  can  be 
proved),  but  against  the  system  of  whole- 
sale indiscriminate  destruction,  as  founded 
upon  the  erroneous  notion  that  birds  are 
necessarily  injurious.  As  soon  as  the  bird- 
destroyers  are  convinced  that  the  supposed 
enemies  of  the  farmer  and  gardener  are  in 
reality  more  friends  than  enemies  there 
will  be  no  dispute,  for  then  any  excess  (if 
it  exist)  will  be  duly  and  only  duly  cor- 


27O  GOOSNARGH  : 

reeled,  and  indiscriminate  slaughter  will 
cease.  The  second  argument  is  of  no 
greater  value  than  the  first,  for  the 
amount  of  destruction  of  grain,  fruits  &c. 
by  birds  cannot  be  proved  (at  least  it  has 
never  yet  been  proved)  to  be  so  great  as 
to  justify  their  extermination,  for  that  is 
the  result  tacitly  implied,  otherwise  the 
second  argument  will  be  but  a  repetition  of 
the  first.  The  fact  I  believe  to  be  that  the 
amount  of  destruction  of  fruits,  grain  &c. 
by  birds  is  small  in  comparison  with  the 
protection  which  they  have  previously 
afforded  to  the  growth  of  the  products,  on 
a  portion  of  which  they  may  feed  when 
they  cannot  find  insects  enough  to  live 
upon.  "  The  labourer  is  worthy  of  his 
hire ; "  and  the  winged  labourer  having 
been  engaged  in  the  destruction  of  the 
destroyers  of  fruits,  grain  &c.  is  entitled 
to  participate  in  the  produce  which  it  has 
assisted  to  mature.  Such  is  plainly  the 
suggestion  of  reason  and  the  ordinance  of 
Providence.  ORNITHOPHILUS. 

To  the  above  I  will  just  venture  to  add  that  I 
really  believe  that  were  the  whole  race  of  birds 
annihilated,  we  should  soon  be  so  overrun  with 
grubs  and  insects  as  to  be  unable  to  grow  either 
corn,  fruit  or  vegetables.  Despise  not  the  day  of 
small  things,  nor  (without  some  very  strong 
reason)  make  an  indiscriminate  attack  upon 
those  tiny  songsters  which  annually  fill  our 
groves  and  hedgerows  with  their  cheering 
and  delightful  music. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  27! 

About  64  years  ago  there  existed  one  of  those 
"mischievous"  bird  clubs  in  this  township,  the 
price  of  bird  eggs  and  heads  being  fixed  by  the 
churchwardens  (and  the  purchase  money  paid  out 
of  the  church-rates),  according  to  some  fanciful 
notion  which  our  great  ones  of  that  day  had  of 
the  bad,  worse  and  worst  qualities  of  the  dif- 
ferent species,  the  carrion-crow  and  the  magpie 
being  considered  the  greatest  pests  of  the  winged 
tribe,  and  the  price  set  upon  their  heads  (3d. 
each)  much  higher  than  any  of  the  rest.  And 
well  do  I  remember  knavishly  palming  off  upon  an 
old  churchwarden  of  that  day  six  rook  heads  as 
carrion-crows  and  one  pewit  head  as  a  magpie, 
the  bodies  of  the  former  having  been  first  made 
into  pies,  and  the  topping  of  the  latter  extracted  ! 

What  a  change  has  come  over  the  minds  of 
our  legislators  and  community  generally  during 
the  last  60  years,  what  then  was  to  be  put  down 
by  law  is  now  encouraged. 

By  the  24th  Henry  VIII.,  c.  10,  entitled  "  An 
Act  made  ordeyned  to  destroye  Chouges,  Crows 
and  Rokes."  It  is  provided,  For  asmoche  as  in- 
numerable numbre  of  Rookes,  Crows  and 
Choughes  do  daily  brede  and  increase  throughout 
this  Realme,  which  Rooke  &c.  do  yearly  destroy, 
devoure  and  consume  a  wonderful  and  marvellous 
great  quantity  of  Corne  and  Greyne  of  all  kinds." 
That  all  persons  in  possession  of  land  shall  do 
their  best  to  destroy  crows  &c.  on  penalty  of 
amerciaments  in  Courts  Leet  &c.  That  for  ten 
years  every  parish  shall  provide  and  keep  in  re- 
pair crow-nets  wherewith  to  capture  the  devasta- 
tors. That  for  ten  years  the  farmers  shall  meet 
and  take  order  for  destroying  of  young  crows  &c. 


272  GOOSNARGH  : 

under  a  penalty  of  twenty  shillings.  That 
farmers  shall  pay  to  the  captor  two  pence  per 
dozen  for  all  old  crows  &c.  taken  on  their  farms. 
By  the  8th  Elizabeth,  c.  15,  entitled  "An  Act 
for  p'servacon  of  Grayne."  A  portion  of  the 
above-named  Act  was  confirmed,  the  remainder 
being  repealed  by  this  new  Act,  the  churchwar- 
dens in  every  parish  attested  by  six  other 
parishioners  shall,  after  the  Feast  of  St.  Mychall 
Tharchangel  on  one  of  the  holy  days  in  Easter- 
week  and  at  every  other  time  when  needful,  tax 
and  assess  every  land  and  tithe-owner  within  the 
parish  to  pay  such  sums  of  money  as  they  shall 
think  meet  according  to  the  quantity  of  such 
their  land  or  tithes,  and  on  non-payment  thereof 
within  fourteen  days  after  demand  to  forfeit  five 
shillings,  which  together  with  the  sum  assessed 
shall  be  levied  by  distress  on  the  goods  and 
chattels  of  such  land  or  tithe-owner.  By  this 
Act  the  various  species  of  "  noisome  fowl  and 
vermin  "  prescribed  are  much  more  numerous 
and  the  rewards  for  their  destruction  increased  : — 
Old  Crowes,  Chawghes,  Pyes  or  Rookes  to  be 
paid  for  at  the  rate  of  three  a  peny ;  everie 
syxe  Young  Crows  &c.  a  peny ;  everie  syxe  Egges 
unbroken  a  peny  ;  everie  twelve  Stares'  heads  a 
peny  ;  everie  head  of  Martyn,  Hawkes,  Furse- 
kytte,  Mold  KytLe,  Busarde,  Schagge,  Carmerat, 
or  Ringtayle,  two  pence;  everie Irm  orOspraye's 
head  four  pence ;  for  the  head  of  every  Wood- 
wall,  Pye,  Jaye,  Raven  or  Kyte  one  peny ;  for 
the  head  of  everie  Byrde  which  is  called  the 
Kyng's  Fyssher  one  peny  ;  for  the  head  of  everie 
Fox  or  Grey  twelve  pence ;  and  for  the  head  of 
everie  Fitchewe,  Polecatte,  Wesell,  Stote,  Fay  re 


PAST    AND    PRESENT.  273 

Bade  or  Wild  Catte  one  peny  ;  for  the  heads  of 
everie  Otter  or  Hedgehogge  two  pence  ;  for  the 
heads  of  every  three  Rattes  or  twelve  Myse  one 
peny  ;  for  the  heads  of  everie  Maldwarpe  or 
Wante  one  half-penny. 

The  1 4th  Elizabeth  c.  n,  confirms  the  preced- 
ing and  extends  the  time  for  its  observance. 

Of  the  various  species  of  vermin  alluded  to  in 
the  above  entry  the  glead  is  a  description  of  kite, 
and  is  spoken  of  in  Deut.  xiv.  13.  The  ring-teal 
or  ring-tale  is  the  female  of  the  circus  cyaneus, 
or  hen-harrier,  a  species  of  falcon.  In  the 
enriched  vocabulary  of  the  scribe,  the  words 
Bowson,  Gray  and  Bagger  all  stand  for  the  same 
animal — the  Badger. 

SUNDAY    SPORTS. 

Sunday  sports  such  as  football,  bandycad, 
marbles,  nogs,  casting-stone,  leaping,  running, 
which  were  all  rather  common  so  late  as  sixty  or 
seventy  years  ago  are  now  almost  unknown,  and 
I  must  attribute  this  sudden  change  in  a  great 
measure  to  the  influence  of  our  various  Sunday 
schools.  A  few  of  the  inhabitants  especially  of 
one  sect  (I  must  admit)  indulge  in  card-playing 
on  the  Sabbath,  and  that  too  for  money ;  but 
whilst  the  few  practice  this  the  many  hold  it  in 
great  contempt  and  discountenance  it  by  all 
means  in  their  power,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that 
that  debasing  and  demoralising  practice  will  ere 
long  sink  into  well-merited  oblivion. 

King  James  the  First's  "  Book  of  Sports  "  and 
his  Royal  proclamation  which  appeared  shortly 
after  he  visited  this  neighbourhood  (Hoghton 
R 


274  GOOSNARGH  : 

Tower)  in  the  year  1618,  had  a  high  and  per- 
nicious hand  in  the  encouragement  of  Sabbath 
desecration  in  this  district  When  the  big  'uns 
pat  the  little  'uns  on  the  back,  it  is  "  go  it 
Jemmy."  (See  Baine's  History  of  Lancashire, 
vol.  i,  pages  55  and  56). 

In  1650  an  Act  was  passed  entitled  "  An  Act 
for  the  better  preventinge  and  suppressinge  of 
the  detestable  sins  of  profane  swearing  and  curs- 
ing." The  fine  imposed  to  go  either  wholly  or 
in  part  to  the  poor  of  the  parish.  The  following 
are  some  of  the  provisions  of  this  Act: — I.  A 
record  of  all  convictions  to  be  kept  by  the  justice 
of  the  peace  and  the  names  of  the  offenders  so 
convicted  to  be  published  quarterly.  2.  The 
penalty  to  be  attached  to  be  a  graduated  one,  so 
as  not  to  press  too  heavily  upon  the  poor  man  it 
is  presumed  who  might  be  disposed  to  indulge. 
For  the  first  offence,  a  lord  303.,  a  baronet  2os., 
and  esquire  ios.,  a  gentleman  6s.  8d.,  an  inferior 
person  33.  4d ;  for  the  second  offence,  double  the 
aforesaid  ;  for  the  tenth  offence  he  or  she  shall  be 
adjudged  a  common  swearer  or  curser  and  be 
bound  with  sureties  to  the  good  behaviour  during 
three  years;  in  default  of  payment  of  the  fine  the 
offender  to  be  set  in  the  stocks  for  three  or  six 
hours  according  to  the  frequency  or  infrequency 
of  previous  convictions. 

In  1656  another  Act  was  passed  for  the  obser- 
vance of  the  Lord's  Day,  which  was  required  to  be 
read  in  all  churches  on  the  first  Lord's  Day  in 
March  yearly,  immediately  before  the  morning 
sermon,  which  for  the  stringency  of  its  provi- 
sions forms  a  striking  contrast  to  the  laxity  of 
conduct  permitted,  and  even  enjoined  by  the 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  275 

"  Book  of  Sports"  above  mentioned,  so  recently 
issued  by  James  I.  in  1618,  and  republished  by 
his  son  and  successor,  Charles,  in  1633.  It  directs 
all  goods  cried  or  put  O'  sale  on  the  Lord's  Day 
or  other  days  of  humiliation  or  thanksgiving  to 
be  seized  ;  travellers,  waggoners  &c.  not  observ- 
ing the  days  to  forfeit  IDS.  ;  any  writ,  warrant 
&c.,  executed  on  those  days  to  be  of  no  effect,  and 
the  persons  so  offending  to  forfeit  ^"5.  No  per- 
son to  use  or  travel  with  boat,  horse,  coach  or 
sedan  except  to  Church  upon  pain  of  ios.  All 
persons  which  on  those  days  shall  be  in  a  tavern, 
alehouse,  tobacco-house  (unless  he  lodge  there) 
to  forfeit  i  os.  ;  all  persons  dancing  or  profanely 
singing  to  forfeit  ios. ;  and  where  no  distress  can 
be  made  on  the  goods  of  the  offenders  owing  to 
their  poverty,  the  offender  to  sit  in  the  stocks  for 
six  hours. 

MEN,    MAIDS   AND    MATRONS — THEIR    MANNERS 
AND   THEIR   WAYS. 

The  manners  of  the  people  are  generally  rude 
but  kind  and  hospitable,  their  accent  broad  and 
language  uncouth  (but  fast  improving),  ungram- 
matical  (bad  grammar  is  often  excusable,  but  bad 
manners  never).  They  take  great  pains  to  pry 
into  one  another's  business,  and  often  succeed  in 
fishing  pretty  near  to  the  bottom  of  one  another's 
outward  circumstances.  Whilst  the  citizen  is 
every  day  cheated  by  his  fellow-citizen,  the 
countryman  is  but  rarely  "  done  brown  "  by  his 
neighbour.  In  the  southern  part  of  the  town- 
ship their  manners  are  more  polished  than  in  the 
northern  hilly  district,  but  what  they  gain  in 
R  2 


276  GOOSNARGH  : 

politeness  they  lose  in  simplicity  and  sincerity, 
indeed  as  a  general  rule  the  further  we  leave  the 
town  the  less  duplicity  we  meet  with.  The  men 
are  of  active  and  industrious  habits,  strong  of 
limb,  well-proportioned  in  body  and  of  intelligent 
minds,  know  few  wants  except  in  such  cases  of 
agricultural  depression  as  they  are  now  labour- 
ing under,  may  fairly  be  said  to  be  a  happy  but 
not  a  money-making  people.  They  are  very 
poor  politicians  (which  on  the  whole  is  perhaps 
all  the  better),  as  evidenced  by  their  carelessness 
to  have  their  names  upon  the  Register  of  Voters, 
whilst  we  see  the  townsman  straining  every 
nerve  to  qualify  himself  to  vote,  the  country- 
man is  often  hard  to  prevail  upon  to  claim  the 
vote  he  is  entitled  to.  Many  of  the  old  farmers 
are  but  indifferent  scholars,  but  to  their  credit 
be  it  recorded  they  generally  evince  a  desire  to 
give  their  children  as  liberal  an  education  as 
their  means  and  parish  schools  afford. 

One  peculiar  characteristic  of  the  young  men 
in  this  neighbourhood  is  their  proneness  to  play 
pranks  upon  one  another,  the  lasses  sometimes 
lending  a  helping  hand,  this  manifests  a  high  and 
lively  flow  of  spirits  and  a  singular  genius  of  the 
people. 

Although  some  few  of  our  matrons  are  so  silly 
as  to  make  slaves  of  themselves  to  make  a  sort 
of  ladies  of  their  daughters,  and  to  such  I  would 
apply  the  words  of  the  poet : — 

"  I  tell  thee,  wife,  I'll  have  our  daughter  bred 
To  book'ry,  cook'ry,  thimble,  needle,  thread  ; 
Make  her  expert  and  ready  at  her  prayers, 
That  God  may  keep  her  from  the  devil's  snares. 
Teach  her  what's  useful,  how  to  shun  deluding, 
To  roast,  to  toast,  to  boil  and  mix  a  pudding ; 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  277 

To  knit,  to  spin,  to  sew,  to  make  or  mend, 
To  scrub,  to  rub,  to  earn  and  not  to  spend." 

Yet  in  general  the  young  women  are  well  trained 
to  the  duties  of  house  work,  and  make  first-rate 
house  wives,  and  vie  with  each  other  in  the  art 
of  cheese  making  and  in  having  tidy  fire-sides. 
Many  of  them  can  command  a  regiment  of  pots 
and  piggens  and  be  ladies  in  company  notwith- 
standing :  thafs  the  sort  for  me  or  any  worthy 
man  to  marry  !  And  if  art  would  but  spare  them 
pain  (not  to  say  sin)  in  attempting  an  improve- 
ment by  screwing  themselves  half  off  in  the 
middle,  this  district  would  produce  female 
figures  rarely  equalled  and  never  surpassed. 

PROFESSED   RELIGION.        . 

There  are  four  sects  of  professing  Christians 
in  this  township  namely — Protestant,  Catholic, 
Methodist,  and  Independent  or  Calvinist. 

Between  profession  and  possession,  alas  !  to 
all  appearance,  how  wide  the  gap. 

Of  the  numerous  splits  amongst  professing 
Christians,  the  historian  Baines  says  (and  so  far 
I  subscribe  his  creed) : — "  The  different  sections 
of  professing  Christians  serve  by  a  wise  ordina- 
tion of  providence  to  stimulate  each  others 
exertions  to  the  path  of  piety  and  benevolence. 
Happily  the  spirit  of  the  so-called  religious  perse- 
cution which  so  much  disgraced  this  country  in 
the  1 6th  and  I7th  centuries  (not  of  one  party 
only)  has  given  place  to  an  enlightened  tolera- 
tion, allowing  every  man  to  worship  God  '  under 
his  own  vine  and  his  own  fig  tree.'  May  we  not 
be  so  zealous  for  a  name  or  a  sect  as  to  demon- 


278  GOOSNARGH  : 

strata  by  our  most  social  conduct  and  unmis- 
takable upright  consistant  lives,  that  'we  have 
been  with  Jesus,  and  are  partakers  (by  faith)  of 
His  Divine  nature,  trusting  entirely  in  His 
atoning  merits  without  the  deeds  of  the  law.'  " 

VALENTINE'S  DAY. 

The  youngsters  here  keep  up  a  silly,  mis- 
chievous and  reprehensible  custom  of  sending 
(under  fictitious  names  and  in  disguised  hands) 
ridiculous  and  indelicate  letters  to  one  another 
annually,  on  about  the  I4th  of  February,  where- 
by ill  will  is  often  created  by  the  wrong  horse 
being  saddled. 

JURY  LIST. 

On  the  Jury  List  for  the  Township  of  Goos- 
nargh-with-Newsham  there  stands  the  extra- 
ordinary number  of  99  names ;  a  foolish  law 
qualifying  (as  an  ordinary  rule)  every  man  under 
60  years  of  age  and  assessed  to  the  poor  to  the 
amount  of  £20  per  annum  to  serve  on  juries. 
Surely  some  degree  of  intelligence  is  required, 
and  not  a  small  amount  of  rating,  the  sole 
standard  of  qualification,  when  so  much  is  at 
stake  as  the  guilt  or  innocence  of  our  fellow- 
men,  and  especially  where  the  most  gifted  abilities 
are  so  often  found  wanting. 

BULL   BAITING,    BEAR    BAITING,    AND    COCK 
FIGHTING. 

Bull  baiting,  bear  baiting  and  cock  fighting, 
three  nice  tripertite  brothers,  all  lived  here  one 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  279 

hundred  years  ago,  the  two  first  have  long  been 
dead  and  buried  and  are  almost  forgotten  ;  and 
the  last  is  chased  about  from  den  to  cave  and  is 
dwindling  out  a  miserable  existence. 


GOOSNARGH    VILLAGE. 

Goosnargh  is  a  pretty  little  village,  for  im- 
provements perhaps  without  a  parallel,  and 
though  but  little  it  is  a  lively  nook,  for  the  num- 
ber of  visitors  that  pour  into  it,  especially  from 
the  town  of  Preston,  is  almost  incredible; 
and  for  two  things  (perhaps  one  is  the 
mother  of  the  other),  idle  people  and  gossip, 
I  will  back  it  against  any  village  in  Queen 
Victoria's  dominions.  On  a  fine  and  clear  day 
the  old  church  tower  commands  a  pleasant  and 
extensive  view  of  the  country  for  many  miles 
round.  Here  may  be  had  a  bird's  eye  view  of 
the  village,  and  truly  to  see  it  to  advantage, 
especially  the  neatly  trimmed  and  tastefully  laid 
out  pleasure  grounds  in  front  of  the  Hospital,  it 
must  be  from  the  top  of  the  church  tower;  and 
to  those  minds  who  can  enjoy  the  vagaries  of 
frolicksome  youth  (and  I  envy  not  those  who 
cannot)  the  village  school  yard  often  affords  an 
amusing  scene.  In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
Church,  the  map  of  the  country  truly  delineated, 
richly  and  naturally  ornamented,  shaded  and 
coloured  unrolls  before  the  observer's  eye.  And 
to  those  who  have  a  taste  for  the  beauties  of 
nature,  the  well  cultivated  fields,  the  circuitous 
roads,  the  variety  of  hill  and  dale,  the  old  oak 
and  miniature  park  to  the  south  of  the  Hospital 
will  each  and  all  demand  special  attention. 


280  GOOSNARGH  : 

Giving  the  eye  a  more  extensive  range,  we  see 
dark  woods  not  extensive  but  varied  and  numer- 
ous, spires,  church  towers,  squires'  mansions, 
the  villages  of  Inglewhite  and  Longridge,  the 
tracks  of  winding  brooks,  substantial  farm  houses 
and  white-washed  cottages,  the  happy  indepen- 
dent husbandman  at  his  plough,  his  sythe  or  his 
sickle,  and  all  the  variety  of  beautiful  and  varied 
landscape.  Giving  the  eye  a  still  more  extensive 
scope,  we  see  Preston  with  its  many  spires  and 
more  tall  chimnies  and  a  dense  cloud  of  health- 
destroying  effluvia  hung  over  the  heads.  A  dark 
woody  range  marks  out  the  course  of  the  Ribble 
from  far  above  Preston,  which  becomes  visible  a 
little  below  that  town  from  whence  it  may  be 
traced  till  it  falls  into  the  Irish  Channel.  The 
old  Roman  port,  "the  neb  of  the  Nese"  near 
Freckleton,  is  also  a  prominent  speck.  Mellor 
hill,  Whittle  hill,  Hoghton  tower,  Pendle  hill, 
Parlick  pike,  Bleasdale  fells  and  even  the  Welsh 
hills  may  frequently  be  distinctly  seen  from  off 
Goosnargh  church  tower.  The  towers  of  several 
Lord's  Houses  may  also  be  seen — Chipping, 
Garstang,  Longridge,  Mellor,  Kirkham,  Brough- 
ton,  &c. 

*      *      *      *      How  beautiful  they  stand, 
Those  old  grey  churches  of  our  ancient  land. 

The  following  lines  not  inaptly  apply  to  Goos- 
nargh village  : — 

Oh  !  could  there  in  this  world  be  found 
Some  little  spot  of  happy  ground 

Without  the  village  tattling  ; 
How  doubly  blest  that  spot  would  be, 
Where  all  might  dwell  at  liberty, 
Free  from  the  bitter  misery 

Of  gossip's  endless  prattling. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  28 1 

If  such  a  spot  were  really  known, 
Dame  Peace  might  claim  it  as  her  own, 
And  in  it  she  might  fix  her  throne 

For  ever  and  for  ever  : 
There  like  a  queen  might  reign  and  live, 
While  every  one  might  soon  forgive 
The  little  slights  they  may  receive, 

And  be  offended  never. 

'Tis  mischief  makers  that  remove 

Far  from  our  hearths  that  warmth  of  love, 

And  leads  us  all  to  disapprove 

What  gives  another  pleasure  : 
Thev  seem  to  take  one's  part,  but  when 
They've  heard  our  cares  unthinking  then 
They  soon  retail  them  out  again 

Mix'd  up  with  poisonous  measure. 

And  then  they've  such  a  cunning  way 
Of  telling  ill  meant  tales,  they  say — 
Don't  mention  it  I  pray, 

I  would  not  tell  another. 
Straight  to  your  neighbour  then  they  go, 
Narrating  everything  they  know, 
And  break  the  peace  of  high  and  low, 

Wife,  husband,  friend  and  brother. 

Oh  !  would  this  mischief  making  crew 
Were  all  reduced  to  one  or  two, 
And  they  were  painted  red  or  blue, 

That  every  one  might  know  them  ; 
Then  would  our  villagers  forget 
To  rage  and  quarrel,  fume  and  fret, 
And  fall  into  an  angry  pet 

With  things  so  much  below  them. 

For  'tis  a  sad  degrading  part 
To  make  another's  bosom  smart, 
And  plant  a  dagger  in  the  heart 

VVe  ought  to  love  and  cherish. 
Then  let  us  evermore  be  found 
In  quietness  with  all  around, 
While  friendship,  joy  and  peace  are  found, 

And  angry  feelings  perish  ! 


282  GOOSNARGH  : 

FOOTINGS. 

A  very  bad  custom  prevails  here  especially 
amongst  trades  people  of  "footing"  new  begin- 
ners; a  custom  which  when  taken  with  its  hand- 
maid "rearings,"  has  been  the  stepping  stone  to 
ruin  of  many  a  promising  young  man.  It  was 
formerly  the  custom  to  "foot"  all  the  church 
vestry  men  on  their  being  elected  members,  the 
new  officer  paying  5s.,  which  being  added  to  a 
"tuit"  amongst  the  old  'uns  (the  amount  of 
course)  being  spent  in  liquor,  signed  and  sealed 
the  enrollment  to  office.  "Footings"  under  all 
circumstances  are  bad  enough,  but  when  con- 
nected with  Church  affairs  most  monstrously  so. 

HEARINGS. 

The  "  rearing  "  of  a  building  is  generally  under- 
stood to  mean  the  placing  of  the  main  timbers  of 
the  roof  in  position,  and  on  that  occasion  the 
workmen  have  a  regular  "  spree."  Sir  John 
really  has  been  a  great  man,  a  few  years  ago 
scarcely  anything  sacred  or  profane  could  b 
managed  without  his  aid,  and  many  a  worthy 
matron  has  blushed  to  be  compelled  to  say  when 
the  bottle  was  empty,  "I  have  nothing  in  the 
house,"  but  it  is  pleasing  to  see  that  a  somewhat 
different  tone  has  been  given  to  those  matters 
during  the  last  fifty  years. 

TRADE. 

There  is  very  little  trade  here,  agriculture  as 
before  observed  being  the  chief  occupation,  but 
previous  to  the  invention  and  introduction  of 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  283 

steam-power  into  the  woollen  manufactories 
which  took  place  in  our  neighbouring  town  of 
Preston  about  the  year  1777,  considerable  trade 
was  carried  on  in  both  the  departments  of  spin- 
ning* and  weaving  cotton  and  woollen  cloths. 
At  present  there  are  about  two  families  in  this 
township  employed  in  cotton  hand-loom  weav- 
ing, and  this  craft  is  a  very  poor  business.  Very 
little  more  is  given  for  cloth  manufactured  by 
the  hand  than  that  which  is  produced  by  steam- 
power.  The  woollen  manufactory,  except  a  very 
little  for  home  consumption,  has  entirely  left  this 
district. 

EDUCATION. 

Some  40  years  ago  the  following  was  a  very 
fair  picture,  and  in  some  respects  its  features  have 
improved ;  but  alas  !  how  age  has  told  upon 
others. 

There  are  but  few  country  townships  so  well 
endowed  with  schools  as  Goosnargh,  but  it  is  to 
be  regretted  that  the  salaries  of  all  the  masters 
are  so  very  small  that  first-rate  scholars  cannot 
be  obtained ;  of  course  they  will  go  where  they 
can  be  better  paid,  notwithstanding  many  of  the 
children  get  a  plain  and  useful  education  ;  and  it 
is  a  somewhat  singular  fact  that  the  Township  of 
Gcosnargh  has  during  the  last  seven  years  sent 
more  young  men  to  the  Chester  Training  College 
than  the  Township  of  Preston  ;  and  I  believe 
that  children  here  are  as  well  kept  to  the  Sunday 
schools  of  various  denominations  as  the  children 

*  Formerly  as  before  stated  no  young  woman  was  thought  to  be  in  a 
position  to  marry  until  she  had  spun  sufficient  to  furnish  her  household, 
and  hence  in  law  all  young  women  are  termed  spinsters. 


284  GOOSXARGH  : 

of  any  other  district  in  England.  Go  on  active 
intelligent  Sunday  school  teacher,  though  thy 
power  may  seem  small  thou  wieldest  a  long  and 
strong  lever ;  thy  trials  and  thy  difficulties  may 
be  many,  but  if  thou  faint  not  thy  reward  shall 
be  sure.  Sow  in  faith,  teach  salvation  through 
Christ  alone  and  that  word  shall  not  return  void. 

COAL    FIELDS. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  miners  and  others  that 
coal  fields  exist  in  this  district,  especially  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Inglewhite  and  Beaton  Fell, 
and  sundry  attempts  have  been  made  to  explore 
the  beds  of  coal,  but  hitherto  the  efforts  have 
proved  abortive. 

FAIRIES    AND   BOGGARTS. 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  fairy  race  has  ever 
been  so  numerous  here  as  in  some  of  the  neigh- 
bouring districts,  our  rocks  and  caves  affording 
but  poor  accommodation  to  such  airy  beings,  and 
the  race  is  now  extinct ;  but  according  to  tradi- 
tion the  boggarts  have  formerly  had  many  a 
favourite  haunt  here  and  played  many  a  funny 
prank,  but  many  of  them  are  either  dead  or 
(perhaps  not  liking  to  reside  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  so  many  public  schools)  have  emigrated 
to  other  localities,  but  be  that  as  it  may,  certain 
it  is  they  are  now  very  rarely  to  be  met  with — 
scarcely  one  can  be  seen  in  a  lifetime. 

MORALS. 

Morally  speaking,  at  least  so  far  as  thieving  is 
concerned,  I  think  we  are  more  righteous  than 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  285 

some  of  our  neighbours,  for  though  as  before 
observed  we  have  two  active  constables  stationed 
in  the  township,  yet  they  can  rarely  find  a  job, 
and  were  it  not  for  drink  their  occupation  would 
be  all  but  gone. 

SHROVE  -  TUESDAY. 

On  Shrove-Tuesday  (the  first  day  before  Lent) 
a  peculiar  kind  of  pancake  is  made  at  nearly  every 
house  in  the  township,  to  which  neigh  bouts 
treat  each  other,  it  being  a  general  and  real 
feast  before  a  fictitious  fast,  and  it  is  the  greatest 
neighbour-seeing  day  in  the  year,  and  many  are 
the  kind  compliments  exchanged  and  much  the 
well-merited  praise  bestowed  on  the  good  house- 
wive's  cookery,  in  which  there  is  no  little  emula- 
tion. The  children  go  from  house  to  house  and 
are  treated  with  ginger-bread,  toffies  and  other 
sweet  meats.  This  year  we  had  126  children 
here  asking  for  sweets. 

PACE-EGGING   OR    PEACE-EGGING. 

Peace-egging  week  is  the  last  week  in  Lent 
and  the  first  before  Easter.  Peace-egging  is  a 
well-meant  and  very  ancient  custom,  but  appears 
to  have  nearly  lost  its  original  signification.  It 
is  only  kept  up  in  this  district  by  a  few  of  the 
poorest  old  people  and  children  who  go  from 
house  to  house  asking  rather  an  alms-egg  than  a 
peace-egg ;  and  occasionally  young  men  go  from 
house  to  house  in  groups  of  about  five  or  six, 
dressed  in  various  fantastic  garbs,  wearing  masks, 
singing,  dancing  an  1  capering.  They  have  a 


286  GOOSNARGH  : 

soldier,  a  sailor,  a  lady  and  old  "toss-pot"  with 
a  basket  for  the  eggs — a  foolish  custom  happily 
on  the  wane.  Its  origin  was  this : — Before  the 
invention  of  letters,  signs  were  conveyed  by  em- 
blems or  figures  called  hieroglyphics,  as  for  in- 
stance the  dove  or  figure  of  the  dove  was  the 
emblem  of  love  ;  the  serpent  of  hatred  ;  the  egg 
of  peace  &c.  And  as  Christ's  mission  on  earth 
was  purely  a  misson  of  peace,  a  reconciling  the 
creature  to  the  Creator  by  faith  in  that  said 
Jesus,  and  the  anniversary  of  his  resurrection  being 
celebrated  at  Easter,  the  giving  and  receiving  of 
an  egg  was  anciently  in  memory  of  the  said 
mission  of  peace,  and  also  a  token  of  being  at 
peace  with  one  another !  Many  a  worse  custom 
has  been  better  kept  up. 

Another  version  of  Easter  Pasque,  or  Peace- 
egging  is  that  the  universal  custom  of  giving 
pasque  or  peace-eggs  is  to  be  traced  up  to  the 
theology  and  philosophy  of  the  Egyptians.  The 
Christians,  says  Hutchinson  in  his  History  of 
Northumberland,  have  certainly  used  it  on  this 
day  as  retaining  the  elements  of  future  life  for 
an  emblem  of  the  resurrection.  It  seems  as  if 
this  egg  was  thus  decorated  for  a  religious  trophy 
after  the  days  of  mortification  and  abstinence 
were  over,  and  festivity  had  taken  place,  and  as 
an  emblem  of  the  resurrection  of  life  certified  to 
us  by  the  resurrection  from  the  regions  of  death 
and  the  grave. 

The  Persians,  on  the  festival  of  the  solar  new 
year,  which  lasts  several  days,  present  each  other 
with  coloured  eggs.  This  period  is  looked  on  as 
the  triumph  of  Nature — the  renewal  of  her 
bounties — as  Easter  by  the  Christians  for  the 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  287 

triumph  of  our  Saviour  over  death.  The  Russians 
too  go  from  house  to  house  presenting  eggs  and 
saying  "  Christ  is  risen."  They  are  not  content 
however  with  eggs  alone  but  spiritualise  the 
tradition  by  large  draughts  of  undiluted  brandy. 

Another  version  is — Pasch,  the  old  term  for 
the  festival  of  Easter,  when  the  Church  com- 
memorates not  the  coming  of  our  Lord — for  that 
is  commemorated  at  Christmas — but  the  resur- 
rection of  the  Lord  from  the  dead.  In  many 
parts  of  the  world  the  Christians  salute  one 
another  on  this  day  with  the  words  "  Jesus 
Christ  is  risen  from  the  dead,"  to  which  the  per- 
son accosted  answers  "  He  is  risen  indeed."  And 
friends  present  each  other  with  eggs  stained  with 
various  colours  as  a  sort  of  emblem  of  the  resur- 
rection. 

Other  emblems  are  the  serpent  with  its  tail  in 
its  mouth  like  a  ring — the  emblem  of  eternity  ; 
the  dove — the  emblem  of  God  the  Holy  Spirit. 

MAY    BOUGH    NIGHT. 

On  the  night  of  May-eve  young  men  play  at  a 
sort  of  hieroglyphic  branch  game,  by  planting 
significant  boughs,  &c.,  about  their  neighbours 
houses. 

A  wicking,  signifying  my  dear  chicking  ; 

A  plum  tree  in  bloom,  to  be  married  and  soon  ; 

A  briar,  for  a  liar,  &c. 

The  May  bough  planting  is  a  small  remnant 
of  the  ancient  and  famous  May  games. 

APRIL   NODDY    DAY. 

The  young  and  gay  (I  had  like  to  have  said 
silly)  portion  of  the  community  here  keep  up  the 


288  GOOSNARGH  : 

ancient  custom  of  Noddy-making  on  the  first  day 
of  April,  which  practice  it  is  said  took  its  rise 
from  the  rape  of  the  Sabine  virgins,  750  years 
before  Christ,  of  which  history  records : — 
"  Romulus,  the  founder  of  the  city  of  Rome, 
having  called  a  number  of  loose  persons  together, 
all  males,  he  procured  wives  for  them,  by  inviting 
the  neighbouring  tribe  called  Sabines  to  a 
religious  festival,  and  there  directing  the  men  to 
seize  upon  the  women  and  violate  their  persons." 
This  created  a  war,  which  ended  in  the  two 
nations  being  incorporated  in  one. 

STANDISH    SCHOOL   RENTS. 

The  Usher  of  Standish  School  claims  upon 
the  undermentioned  estates  in  Goosnargh  as 
follows  : — 

£    s.    D. 

Colburn  Castle      oil     6 

Golden  Tanners    o     6     o 

Sagers    o     3     6 

Westfield       i     o     o 

Blake  Hall    076 

Higher  &  Lower  Trotter  Hills  260 

Coopers  or  Scotch  Green     ...  o     8     o 

Lickhurst       on     o 

Snape  Rake 6     6     6 


COUNTY    VOTERS     LIST. 


The  Goosnargh -with- Newsham  voters'  list 
contains  198  names.  Every  male  householder, 
not  being  a  pauper,  has  a  claim  to  vote. 


PAST    AND   PRESENT.  289 

WASTE    LANDS. 

Usually  waste  lands  are  claimed  by  the  lord  of 
the  manor,  but  it  does  not  appear  that  the  lords 
of  Goosnargh  ever  put  their  paws  upon  them  ; 
but  in  their  stead  the  overseers  acted  the  lord 
and  put  in  their  claim  for  all  the  "  wastes,"  and 
such  was  the  high  hand  with  which  parish  affairs 
were  formerly  carried,  and  such  the  laxity  of  the 
real  owners  of  the  "  wastes  "  that  the  said  over- 
seers were  for  many  years  permitted  to  make 
regular  sales  thereof;  and  many  of  the  plots  which 
were  sold  by  the  overseers  have  now  (through 
their  having  been  in  the  peaceable  possession  of 
the  person  who  purchased  them  12  years,  except 
in  case  of  charity  land,  which  is  60),  become  per- 
manent property. 

Regular  entries  appear  to  have  been  kept  in 
the  town's  books  of  the  sale  of  the  said  land, 
from  which  I  extract  the  following  : — 

£     s.    D. 

"Feby  2nd,  1802. — Mr.  Sidgreaves  ...  23  3  10 
"May  I4th,  1810. — Chr.  Oliverson  for 
"  his  encroachment  at  home,  and 
"  another  at  Westfield  Bridge,  paid 
"  towards  Matthew  Miller's  Bond  off, 
"  respecting  money  hired  for  the  use 

"  of  the  Workhouse 10     o     o 

"April  nth,  1811. — Mr.  Thomas  pays  a  Bottle 
"  of  Gin  in  lieu  of  some  small  encroachment 
"  made  at  the  east  end  of  his  house,  which  was 
"  thought  by  the  Committee  then  present  to  be 
"  a  full  compensation  for  the  same. 
"January  6th,  1815. — John  Standen  for  a  parcel 
"  of  land  on  both  sides  of  Cookson's  guide  post : 
u  price  a  good  song." 
s 


290  GOOSNARGH : 

The  total  amount  of  cash  (exclusive  of  gin, 
good  songs,  &c.),  realized  by  the  sale  of  those 
lands  appears  to  be  ^127  8s.  lod. 

The  first  record  of  the  sales  of  those  waste 
lands  bears  date  the  22nd  day  of  January,  1801  ; 
and  the  last,  January  5th,  1816. 

The  last  mentioned  plot  of  ground  was  staked 
out  for  being  enclosed,  and  no  doubt  Mr.  Standen 
would  sing  the  "good  song,"  for  his  vocal  powers 
were  of  first-rate  order  ;  but  notwithstanding,  the 
bargain  fell  to  the  ground,  and  the  said  waste 
was  afterwards  purchased  for  53.,  by  Mr.  Richard 
Woods,  the  owner. 

MOLES,   AND  MOLE   CATCHING. 

About  seventy  years  ago  this  township  was 
overrun  with  moles  ;  but  on  the  I3th  of  February, 
1813,  the  overseers  and  principal  land  owners 
and  occupiers  contracted  with  Jonathan  Newton, 
of  Golgate,  to  destroy  all  the  moles  for  the  con- 
sideration of  £\^>  73.  od.  a  year,  for  the  term  of 
2 1  years ;  and  although  Mr.  Newton  had  many 
men  at  work  during  two  or  three  of  the  first 
years  of  the  term,  yet  contrary  to  expectation 
the  vermin  were  very  soon  exterpated,  and  the 
bargain  a  good  one.  The  agreement  was  as 
follows. 

Articles  of  Agreement, 

had  made  concluded  and  fully  agreed  upon  this 
twentieth  day  of  February,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirteen, 
between  James  Raby,  Christopher  Oliverson,  and 
James  Isherwood,  Overseers  of  the  Poor  of  the 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  29! 

Township  of  Goosnargh,  in  the  County  of  Lan- 
caster, of  the  first  part;  the  several  persons, 
whose  hands  are  hereunto  set  and  subscribed, 
being  landowners  or  renters  of  land  or  tenements, 
and  taxpayers,  within  Goosnargh  aforesaid,  of 
the  second  part ;  and  Jonathan  Newton,  of 
Golgate,  in  the  said  County,  mole  catcher,  of  the 
third  part.  Whereas,  the  said  overseers  have 
lately  agreed  with  the  said  Jonathan  Newton, 
with  the  consent  and  approbation  of  the  several 
persons  mentioned  to  be  of  the  second  part 
of  these  presents,  for  him  the  said  Jonathan 
Newton,  to  kill,  take  and  destroy  the  moles 
within  the  said  Township  of  Goosnargh  for 
the  term  of  twenty-one  years,  upon  receiving 
such  sum  of  money  in  such  manner  as  is 
hereinafter  mentioned.  Now  these  presents 
witness,  and  the  said  Jonathan  Newton  doth 
hereby  for  himself,  his  heirs,  executors  and  ad- 
ministrators agree  with  the  said  overseers  and 
their  successors,  overseers  of  Goosnargh  aforesaid 
for  the  time  being,  that  he  the  said  Jonathan 
Newton,  his  heirs,  executors  and  administrators, 
shall  and  will  for  the  consideration  hereinafter 
mentioned,  kill  take  and  destroy  yearly  and  every 
year  from  the  first  day  of  October  next,  for  the 
term  of  twenty-one  years,  at  all  proper  seasons 
and  times  in  each  year,  the  vermin  called  moles, 
in  the  whole  lands  within  the  Township  of  Goos- 
nargh aforesaid,  in  such  manner  as  shall  be 
satisfactory  to  a  majority  of  the  persons  men- 
tioned to  be  of  the  second  part  of  these  presents  ; 
and  that  he  will  in  the  first  year  of  the  said  term 
employ  four  men  at  least  for  that  purpose.  And 
the  said  overseers  for  themselves  and  their  suc- 

S  2 


292  GOOSNARGH: 

ccssors  do  hereby  agree  with  the  consent  and 
approbation  of  the  said  several  persons  mentioned 
to  be  of  the  second  part  of  these  presents,  testi- 
fied by  their  signing  the  same,  that  they  will 
pay  unto  the  said  Jonathan  Newton,  his  execu- 
tors and  administrators,  upon  his  killing  and 
destroying  the  said  vermin  called  moles  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  said  persons  mentioned  to  be 
of  the  second  part  of  these  presents,  or  of  a 
majority  of  them,  but  not  otherwise,  the  annual 
sum  of  eighteen  pounds  seven  shillings,  for  and 
during  the  said  term  of  twenty-one  years,  by  two 
equal  payments  in  each  year,  the  first  payment 
to  be  made  upon  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  De- 
cember next,  and  the  second  and  every  succeeding 
payment  upon  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  June  in 
each  year.  And  it  is  hereby  agreed  that  no 
money  shall  be  paid  unto  the  said  Jonathan 
Newton  unless  he  shall  perform  the  said  agree- 
ment to  the  satisfaction  of  the  said  persons  of 
the  second  part  of  these  presents  as  aforesaid. 
And  it  is  hereby  agreed  between  and  by  the  said 
overseers  and  the  several  persons  of  the  second 
part  of  these  presents  that  it  shall  and  may  be 
lawful  to  and  for  the  said  overseers  and  their 
successors  to  levy,  collect  and  raise  the  monies 
required  for  the  purpose  aforesaid  in  such  manner 
and  in  such  proportions  as  the  poor  rates  within 
the  said  Township  of  Goosnargh  are  levied,  col- 
lected and  raised,  and  to  pay  the  same  money 
thereout  accordingly.  In  witness  whereof  the 
said  parties  have  hereunto  set  their  hands  the 
day  and  year  first  before  written. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  293 

Jonathan  Newton.          Mattw.  Miller. 

James  Raby.  Robert  Miller. 

James  Isherwood.  John  Arrowsmith. 

Chrisr.  Oliverson.  John  Fisher. 

James  Blanchard  Thos.  Hornby. 

(Trustee  of).  James  Parkinson. 

James  Sidgreaves(decd.)  Edwd.  Parkinson. 

James  Blanchard.  James  Pettyfer. 

Willtn.  Cross.  Richd.  Taylor. 

Richd.  Eccles.  John  Eccles. 

Richd.  Miller. 
Of  course  Mr.  Newton's  term  expired  in  the 
spring  of  the  year  1834,  anc^  at  ^ts  expiration 
scarcely  a  mole  hill  could  be  seen  in  the  district, 
but  in  a  few  years  afterwards  it  was  found  that 
the  moles  were  again  making  their  way  into  the 
township  especially  on  the  northern  boundary, 
and  in  consequence  it  was  thought  advisable  to 
put  a  timely  check  upon  them.  Therefore  the 
overseers  and  others  of  the  township  entered  into 
a  verbal  agreement  with  another  mole  catcher  to 
keep  Goosnargh  free  from  moles  for  another 
term  of  21  years,  the  consideration  money  being 
^~5  per  annum  ;  this  was  thought  at  the  time  by 
the  townsmen  to  be  a  very  moderate  sum  for  the 
duties  required,  but  not  so  it  appeal  s  by  those 
in  the  trade,  for  in  a  few  years  after  the  agree- 
ment was  made  the  job  was  underlet  to  another 
mole  catcher  for  the  yearly  stipend  of  £2  los. 
This  coming  to  the  knowledge  of  the  ratepayers, 
coupled  with  the  fact  of  the  inattention  of  the 
sub-contractor,  some  squabbling  ensued  which 
led,  in  the  year  1849,  to  tne  suspension  of  the 
mole  catcher's  salary.  The  moles  have  again 
already  become  very  numerous  in  the  higher 


294  GOOSNARGH  : 

division  of  the  township,  and  long  and  loud  are 
the  complaints  of  the  farmers  against  them  ;  but 
making  them  to  the  worst  they  are  not  so  objec- 
tionable now  when  pipe  tile  draining  is  in  vogue 
as  they  were  when  sod  drains  were  the  order  of 
the  day. 

RURAL   POLICE. 

We  have  a  policeman  stationed  at  Goosriargh 
and  another  at  Inglewhite,  and  though  it  is  but 
seldom  they  can  get  up  a  case  it  must  be  admit- 
ted they  conduce  to  better  government  of  the 
district.  "  Prevention  is  better  than  cure." 

CROSSES   OR   CROSS   STONES. 

We  have  the  remains  of  several  upright  crosses 
in  this  township  called  "cross  stones,"  all  being 
placed  near  to  some  public  road  or  path.  The 
corpses  of  the  Roman  Catholics  are  rested  at 
those  stones  on  their  way  to  interment,  and  those 
funeral  attendants  who  are  of  that  persuasion 
kneel  down  and  offer  up  a  short  prayer  for  the 
repose  of  the  soul  of  the  departed  individual 
whose  body  they  are  conveying  to  the  grave. 
There  was  formerly  one  of  those  ancient  cross 
pedestals  in  Whitechapel  yard  (now  properly  the 
Church  of  Whitechapel),  but  the  Rev.  Richard 
Wilkinson,  late  minister  there,  of  anti-Romanistic 
notoriety,  in  his  frenzied  hostility  to  the  Roman 
Catholics,  caused  it  to  be  broken  up  and  re- 
moved. He  also  with  his  own  hands  partially 
demolished  one  of  those  ancient  relics  which 
stood  in  the  "Pointer  field''  of  Beesley  estate, 


PAST  AND   PRESENT.  2 95 

the  stump  which  yet  bears  the  marks  of  his  fury 
may  be  seen  near  Beesley  four  lane  ends ;  and 
I  being  at  the  time  a  little  boy  and  unconscious 
of  the  outrage  he  was  about  to  commit,  most 
willingly  furnished  him  with  a  large  stone  ham- 
mer. How  silly,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  to  vent 
indignation  upon  an  unoffending  stone.  I  may 
here  also  remark  that  a  few  years  ago  a  band  of 
ruffianly  fellows  under  cover  of  night  demolished 
one  of  those  ancient  cross  stones  which  had  for 
ages  stood  at  the  top  of  Church  bank  meadow. 
The  first  step  was  to  roll  it  into  a  deep  ditch 
hard  by  the  spot  where  it  long  had  stood,  where 
it  remained  for  a  few  weeks ;  not  yet  satisfied 
they  again  attacked  it  and  broke  it  to  pieces,  and 
the  broken  parts  were  again  hashed  up  and  used 
for  road  materials. 

Whilst  we  justly  denounce  as  idolatrous  the 
adoration  of  images  and  the  bowing  to  crosses, 
we  should  not  forget  that  we  may  fall  into  errors 
on  the  right  hand  as  well  as  on  the  left.  Who 
paints  the  cross  on  the  ass's  back  ? 

These  crosses  were  erected  in  different  parts  of 
England  from  the  time  of  Edward  I.,  who  reigned 
from  A.D.  1272  to  A.D.  1307,  to  that  of  Mary, 
from  1553  to  1558,  and  on  this  head  R.  and  W. 
Chambers  in  their  information  for  the  people 
remark : — 

The  influencing  of  the  devotional  feelings  is 
said  to  be  the  object  aimed  at  by  the  various  out- 
ward insignia,  the  Church  holding  it  to  be  of  equal 
consequence  whether  the  heart  is  touched  and 
feelings  of  piety  and  veneration  are  excited  by  the 
exhibition  of  a  crucifix  or  the  preaching  of  a 
sermon.  But  in  this  our  day  far  too  much  is 


296  GOOfNARGH : 

made  of  the  material  cross,  for  when  the  apostle 
speaks  of  glorying  in  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  he  evidently  means  in  the  atonement 
made  by  his  shameful  death.  (Gal.  6c.  I4v). 

OLD  HALLS   AND   OTHER   ANCIENT   BUILDINGS. 

As  has  been  before  remarked  Goosnargh  has  not 
many  very  ancient  buildings  to  boast,  and  unfor- 
tunately many  of  the  old  halls  bear  no  inscrip- 
tion and  of  their  erection  few  records  exist. 

Middleton  Old  Hall  is  without  doubt  the  most 
ancient  hall  in  Goosnargh,  and  for  antiquity 
will  even  take  preference  of  the  Church  itself, 
for  it  has  been  before  stated  its  owner  and  occu- 
pier was  the  founder  of  a  chantry  here  in  1508,  it 
was  built  by  a  branch  of  the  Singleton  family  it 
is  believed  about  the  beginning  of  the  i4th 
century,  and  what  is  most  singular  the  property 
has  remained  in  the  same  family  down  to  the 
present  time,  being  at  present  the  property  of 
Townley  Rigby  Knowles  Esq.  of  Fishwick  and 
Gan  Basses,  in  France,  the  family  name  having 
only  changed  thrice  during  the  period  of  upwards 
of  400 years,  namely  from  Singleton  to  Rigby,  and 
from  Rigby  to  Shawe,  and  from  Shawe  to 
Knowles.  In  the  time  of  the  Rigbys  it  is  said 
Middleton  Hall  estate  was  enclosed  and  deer 
stalked  about  in  the  Park. 

Inglewhite  Lodge,  which  was  till  lately  the 
residence  of  the  oldest  living  branch  of  the  Sid- 
greaves  family  for  upwards  of  two  centuries, 
bears  the  following  inscription: — "IS  1636.  C.S. 
1679.  A  root  of  the  Sidgreaves  family  held 
lands  in  Fee,  22  Edward  I.  (1294)  as  appears 
from  escheats  of  that  date. 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  2g7 

Bulsnape  Hall  is  doubtless  one  of  the  most 
ancient  buildings  in  the  township.  In  the  deeds 
of  the  property  which  belongs  to  the  representa- 
tives of  the  late  George  Hargreaves  of  Leyland, 
it  is  called  "The  Manor  House  or  reputed  manor 
house  of  Goosnargh,"  and  a  short  time  ago  the 
remains  of  a  moat  could  be  traced  round  the  old 
hall,  but  the  levelling  farmer  who  formerly 
occupied  the  premises  nearly  obliterated  every 
vestige  of  it, 

Whinney  Clough  Barn  is  a  specimen  of  archi- 
tectural work  not  excelled,  if  equalled,  by  any 
building  of  the  kind,  ancient  or  modern,  in  the 
neighbourhood ;  it  bears  the  inscription  and 

date  R.  "•  A.,  1639,  and  bids  fair  to  outlast  the 
best  built  barn  in  the  township. 

Goosnargh  Mill  House  bears  date  1722,  and 
from  some  remains  of  old  walls  which  were  dug 
up  a  few  years  ago,  it  is  not  improbable  that  a 
more  ancient  mill  formerly  stood  at  the  higher 
side  of  the  road.  Goosnargh  Mill  was  formerly 
supplied  by  water  from  a  dam  at  the  higher  side 
of  Dam  Plat  and  also  from  the  Horn's  Dam. 

Latus  or  Longley  Hall,  in  Longley  Tithery. 

Blake  Hall  (formerly  the  residence  of  the 
Midgalls)  contains  an  ancient  oak  family  dining 
table,  dated  1630,  and  is  fit  to  grace  the  hall  of 
Buckingham  Palace. 

Church  House,  dated  1589. 

Ashes  was  formerly  the  residence  of  ThrelfallL 
the  tithing  man  from  whom  the  tithery  had  its 
name,  and  who  it  is  said  took  an  active  part  in 
the  Scotch  rebellion  of  1745,  and  as  a  very  just\ 
reward  forfeited  both  his  head  and  his  property." 

White  Hill  and  White  Lee  are  also  both 
ancient  family  residences. 


298  GOOSNARGH  : 


COUNTY    BRIDGES. 


Goosnargh  has  two  county  bridges,  namely 
Westfield  and  Silk  Mill,  which  are  repaired  by  the 
High  Constable  of  the  district  and  the  expenses 
defrayed  out  of  the  county  rates. 


CORONERSHIP. 

Coroners  have  legal  jurisdiction  throughout 
the  respective  counties  for  which  they  hold  office, 
yet  custom  and  courtesy  assign  to  each  officer  a 
certain  locality,  and  by  which  Goosnargh-with- 
Newsham  is  in  the  Preston  District.  Fortu- 
nately inquests  are  of  rare  occurrence  here,  on  an 
average,  not  more  I  should  say  than  one  in  a 
year. 

TEANLY   NIGHT. 

On  the  eve  of  All  Saints  some  of  the  Roman 
Catholics  have  an  ancient  custom  of  lighting  up 
fires  near  to  their  houses,  and  I  have  often  been 
told  the  reason  of  this,  but  the  idea  seems  so  pre- 
posterous I  will  make  no  comment  upon  the 
practice,  but  leave  it  to  speak  for  itself. 

GOOSNARGH   SUNDAY   SCHOOL. 

There  is  a  Sunday  School  connected  with 
Goosnargh  Church,  which  was  established  by  the 
Rev.  Robinson  Shuttleworth  Barton,  in  the  year 
1816.  The  following  is  the  notice  which  was 
issued  at  its  commencement. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  299 

My  dear  Parishioners, 

It  is  my  intention  on  Sunday  next  to  attend 
the  Free  Grammar  School  of  this  Chapelry 
for  the  purpose  of  giving  instruction  to 
your  children,  and  in  which  I  am  to  be 
kindly  assisted  by  some  of  our  good 
neighbours. 

The  school  will  be  open  from  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning  until  church- 
time,  and  from  a  quarter  before  two  in  the 
afternoon  until  half-past  three,  at  which 
time  we  shall  go  again  to  Church. 

Your  children  will  be  taught  free  of  any 
expense  to  you  ;  and  I  earnestly  entreat 
such  of  you  as  are  desirous  of  showing 
your  regard  for  religion,  and  of  having 
your  children  brought  up  in  habits  of  in- 
dustry, and  in  the  knowledge  and  fear  of 
God,  not  to  neglect  this  opportunity  of 
having  them  instructed. 

All  that  I  can  further  request  of  you  is 
that  you  will  send  the  children  as  clean  as 
you  can. 

I  am,  your  affectionate  Friend, 
R.  S.  BARTON, 

Minister  of  Goosnargh. 

All  who  choose  to  avail  themselves  of  the  privi- 
leges of  the  said  School  are  on  application  ad- 
mitted, and  are  taught  free  of  expense,  the 
necessary  charges  for  books,  &c.,  being  all 
defrayed  by  subscription.  In  1852  there  were 
122  scholars  on  the  books,  and  about  90  in 


300  GOOSNARGH  : 

regular  attendance,  being  double  the  number  in 
attendance  20  years  ago.  In  former  years  teachers 
have  been  paid  for  assisting  in  this  School,  but 
the  present  teachers — 10  in  number — perform 
their  services  gratuitously,  as  always  ought  to 
have  been  the  case.  Writing  and  arithmetic 
have  both  been  taught  in  Goosnargh  Sunday 
School ;  but  such  branches  of  education  are  not 
in  accordance  with  the  sacredness  of  the  day,  and 
were  very  properly  discontinued  to  be  taught  in 
the  year  18381. 

One  of  the  Sunday  School  teachers  (John 
Farnworth  of  Whittingham),  was  never  absent 
from  the  School  either  morning  or  afternoon 
(as  scholar  and  teacher),  for  the  long  period  of 
15  years.  He  was  a  drainer  by  trade,  and  on 
some  occasions  has  walked  from  Bolton  on  a 
Saturday  night,  from  his  work,  to  his  residence 
at  Whittingham,  on  purpose  to  meet  his  class 
the  following  Sunday  morning.  Alas  !  Alas  !  ! 
How  stands  the  matter  now  ?  What  less  can 
I  say  than  Ichabod  ? 

A  banquet  was  formerly  given  to  the  teachers 
and  scholars  annually,  about  the  2ist  June — the 
anniversary  of  the  Queen's  coronation — which  was 
most  respectfully  attended.  Its  gatherings  con- 
sisted of  most  of  the  Church  members  in  the 
district ;  and  best  of  all — yes,  better  than  all — 
the  ladies  came  smilingly  up,  and  strove  which 
of  them  could  make  themselves  the  most  agree- 
able and  the  most  useful.  The  number  of  Sunday 
School  scholars  that  attended  this  banquet  in  1854 
was  130.  The  expenses  of  the  banquet  are 
defrayed  by  subscription,  and  the  last  year's  bill 
of  fare  stood  thus : — 


PAST  AND   PRESENT.  30 I 

£     S.     D.  I 

Expenses  of  the  band I     7     4 

Groceries,  buns,  &c 3  17     5 

Books    o     i     9 

^5     6     6 

GOOSNARGH    SCHOOL   LENDING    LIBRARY. 

There  is  a  room  over  Goosnargh  girls'  school 
set  apart  for  a  Library,  which  has  been  furnished 
by  the  late  Richard  Oliverson,  Esq.,  with  about 
700  volumes.  The  Library  was  opened  on  the 
1 2th  day  of  September,  1841,  and  the  following 
are  the 

Rules. 

1.  Any  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Townships  of 
Goosnargh  and  Whittingham  shall   be   entitled 
to  receive  the  Books  of  the  Library  on  payment 
of  3d.  per  quarter,  payable  in  advance  ;    those 
who  have  children  at  the  Sunday  School,   2d. 
per  quarter;    and  the  Sunday   school   teachers 
free. 

2.  The  time  allowed  for  reading  a  book  is  four 
weeks,  and  a  fine  of  id.  per  week  will  be  exacted 
for  every  week  that  a  book  is  kept  beyond  the 
time  allowed. 

3.  No  book  to  be  transferred  from  one  family 
to  another,  under  a  fine  of  id.  for  each  offence. 

4.  Any   member   injuring   or   losing   a   book 
must  replace  the  same,  or  be  excluded  from  the 
privilege  of  the  Library. 

6.  The  time  for  delivering  and  receiving  the 
books  is  every  Sunday  evening,  immediately 
after  Divine  service. 


3O2  GOOSNARGH  : 

N.B. — Catalogues  of  the  Books  may  be  had  at 
the  Library  at  2d.  each. 

Goosnargh,  July  27th,  1841. 

At  present  there  are  only  25  readers ;  and  to 
show  how  little  this  great  privilege  is  appreciated 
out  of  the  great  number  of  people  at  Goosnargh 
Hospital,  young  and  old,  employed  and  unem- 
ployed, we  have  only  one  reader,  and  that  one  a 
little  boy  ! 

Such  was  the  poor  account  of  the  Library  in 
1852.  But  alas  !  What  now? — No  librarian, 
and  of  course  no  readers  !  Oh,  sad ;  how  very 
sad ! 

CLOTHING   CLUBS. 

In  the  year  1841  Clothing  Clubs  were  estab- 
lished in  connection  with  Goosnargh  Church  and 
Goosnargh  Sunday  Schools. 

The  following  were  the  Rules  of  the  Congre- 
gation Club : — 

1.  That  no  person  be  admitted  as  a  member 
who  is  not  a  householder  and  resident  within 
the  Chapelry  of  Goosnargh. 

2.  That  no  person  be  admitted  as  a  member 
who  keeps  more  than  one  milch  cow ;  the  Sunday 
school  teachers  excepted. 

3.  All  subscriptions  must  be  paid  by  the  mem- 
bers, and  not  sent  by  other  persons,  except  in 
case  of  sickness. 

4.  No  person  shall  be  allowed  to  subscribe  less 
than  a  penny  or  more  than  4d.  weekly. 

5.  In  the  month  of  December  twopence  will 
be  added  to  every  shilling  subscribed  ;    so  that  a 
person  subscribing  fourpence  weekly  through  the 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  303 

year  (that  is  17/4  in  the  year)  will  be  entitled  to 
receive  2/1 1  in  addition  to  the  money  subscribed. 

6.  The  money  subscribed,  together  with  the 
addition  above  named,  must  be  laid  out  in  clothes 
or  bedding. 

7.  Subscriptions  will  be  received  in  the  Church 
every  Sunday  afternoon,  immediately  after  service. 

8.  Every  subscriber  will  receive  a  check  ticket, 
on  which  his  or  her  subscription  shall  be  entered 
at  the  time  of  payment. 

9.  If  payment  be  omitted  by  any  person  for 
four  weeks  in  succession  no  further  subscription 
will  be  received,  but  the  money  already  subscribed 
will  be  returned  without  addition. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  amount  of  contri- 
butions and  premiums  from  the  commencement 
of  the  said  Congregation  Club  from  1841  to  1852 
inclusive  : — 

YEAR.  CONTRIBUTIONS.  PREMIUMS. 

£     s.     D.  £     s.    D. 

1841     653    i     o     8| 

1842      21    II       O      3    12       2 

1843  10  16  4  i   16     o 

1844  21   10  8  323 

1845  19  14  o  3     5  10 

1846  17     2  8  2  17     5 

1847  10    7  o  i  14  10 

1848  13  19  5  269 

1849    9  IO    9    i   12     i 

1850    16     6     6    249 

1851     17     o     8    2  17     3 

1852    15     6     o    2  ii     5 

Defunct  for  want  of  patrons.     Oh,  what  cool- 
ness,   what    apathy  has   come   over   this   rural 
nook  in  my  short  day  ! 


304  GOOSNARGH  : 

Rules  of  Goosnargh  Sunday  Schools 
Clothing  Club. 

1.  The  subscription  be  one  penny  weekly  for 
each  scholar. 

2.  That  a  premium  of  threepence  in  the  shil- 
ling be  added  from  the  school  fund  to  the  money 
so  subscribed.     Thus,  suppose  a  family  of  three 
children  have  deposited  during  the  year  125.,  to 
this  sum  35.  will  be  added,  making  153.  instead 
of  I2s.,  and  so  in  proportion  for  a  greater  or  less 
sum. 

3.  The  money  to  be  laid  outsat  the  end  of  the 
year  in  such  articles  of  clothing  as  the  contribu- 
tors shall  require. 

4.  The   subscriptions  to  be   collected   in  the 
school  rooms  every  Sunday  afternoon  from  those 
scholars  only  who  answer  to  their  names  both 
morning  and  afternoon  when  the  rolls  are  called 
over. 

5.  Any  child  leaving  the  school  before  the  end 
of  the  year  shall  (without  premium)  receive  back 
the  whole  of  the  money  deposited  by  him  or  her 
up  to  the  time  of  leaving. 

N.B. — No  child  need  enter  the  club  unless  he 
pleases. 

Goosnargh,  April  yth,  1841. 

A  penny  saved  is  a  penny  gained. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  gatherings  and 
amount  of  premiums  of  the  said  Sunday  schools 
club,  from  1841  to  1855  inclusive. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  305 

YEAR.  CONTRIBUTIONS.  PREMIUMS. 

£     s.    D.  £     s.     D. 

1841     10  18     8  2  13     8£ 

1842    19  ii     9  4  15     5 

1843    21     4  10  5     3     i 

1844    19     7     4  4  13     8 

1845    16     4     5  3  19     8 

1846    16  14  ii  408 

1847    14  16     7  3  12     9 

1848    14     8     8  3  ii     i 

1849    16  17     6  405 

1850    18     o     8  4     8  ii 

1851     17     7  ii  456 

1852    14  16     6  3  12     9 

1853    ii     6     4  2  16     7^ 


1855    H53    2  15     6 

This  was  a  good  institution,  but  was  starved 
to  death  for  want  of  attendance. 

MANUFACTURE   OF   COTTON   CLOTH,    &C. 

At  present  there  is  only  about  one  family  em- 
ployed in  hand  loom  weaving. 

It  is  uncertain  when  the  manufactory  of  cotton 
cloth  by  hand  labour  was  first  introduced  here  ; 
about  80  years  ago  it  was  common  and  a 
flourishing  business. 

The  linen  wheel  and  distaff,  the  spinningjenny 
and  the  worsted  wheel  were  formerly  all 
very  common  here,  but  the  two  former  have 
entirely  gone  out  of  use  and  the  latter  is  rarely 
to  be  seen  at  work. 

The  Weavers  Company  in  London  is  the 
oldest  in  that  city.  Linens  were  first  made  in 
T 


306  GOOSNARGH  : 

England  by  Flemish  weavers  in  1253,  before  that 
time  woollen  shirts  were  worn.  Staining  or 
printing  on  linen  was  first  known  here  in  1579 
and  on  calicoes  in  1676. 

DEEDS   AND   SECURITIES   OF   THE   VARIOUS 
PUBLIC    CHARITIES. 

Many  of  the  deeds  and  securities  of  the  various 
public  charities  of  Goosnargh-with-Newsham  are 
scattered  "here  and  there  and  everywhere." 
Those  documents  ought  to  be  collected  and 
lodged  in  the  township's  safe. 

PEAT   OR   MOSS. 

There  have  formerly  been  several  mosses  in 
this  township  where  peat  has  been  cut,  but  in 
most  cases  it  is  all  used  up,  namely,  Kidsnape 
moss,  Eccles  moss,  and  Westfield  moss ;  a  few 
peats  were  last  dug  on  Beaton  fell,  but  they  were 
of  very  inferior  quality.  The  vulgar  and  very 
common,  but  very  erroneous  notion  is  that  those 
mosses  are  the  wreck  of  Noah's  flood,  whereas 
they  are  simply  the  remains  of  decayed  vege- 
table matter  which  has  chiefly  been  produced  on 
the  spot. 

STONE    QUARRIES,    &C. 

There  are  two  or  three  small  stone  quarries  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Beaton  fell,  where  tolerable 
good  building  and  draining  stones  are  procured. 
Black  rock  is  found  not  far  from  the  surface  over 
a  considerable  portion  of  the  middle  district  of 
Goosnargh,  and  there  it  is  the  opinion  of  miners 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  307 

that  coal  exists,  and  several  attempts  have  been 
made  to  "bore  and  sink"  for  that  useful  article, 
but  these  undertakings  have  always  been  given 
up.  Blocks  of  stone  of  considerable  size  are 
found  embedded  in  the  soil  and  clay ;  these 
stones  are  chiefly  granite,  old  red  sand  stone 
(various)  and  lime  stone,  though  no  rocks  of  the 
two  former  kinds  are  found  in  this  township ; 
these  stones  are  nearly  all  rounded  by  attrition, 
and  must  have  been  transported  from  a  very 
great  distance,  probably  from  Wales  on  the  one 
side  and  Scotland  on  the  other. 

BOOKS    AND    READERS. 

It  is  with  great  regret  that  I  record  that  the 
inhabitants  of  this  district  possess  but  a  poor 
stock  of  books,  and  are  not  a  reading  people. 
The  Bible  has  found  its  way  I  believe  into  a 
majority  of  houses,  would  it  were  more  regularly 
perused.  Many  know  something  more  or  less  of 
that  second  best  book  in  the  world  the  Pilgrim's 
Progress  ;  and  that  old  book  misnamed  "  The 
Whole  Duty  of  Man"  is  frequently  to  be  met 
with.  Tracts  are  much  more  commonly  dis- 
tributed than  formerly,  and  are  pretty  well 
received,  generally  read,  and  have  a  good  effect, 
Bishop  Ryle's  especially.  What  improves  the 
reasoning  faculties  and  elevates  the  mind  so 
much  as  reading  and  studying  religious,  moral, 
historical,  mathematical  and  scientific  books  ? 

ODD   SCRAPS. 

Poor  rates  levied  in  Goosnargh   year  ended 
March  25th,  1865  :— 
T  2 


308  GOOSNARGH  : 

S.  D. 

April  I2th  ...     i  3 

August  2nd         i  o 

August  24th       i  2 

December  nth o  8 

January  23rd      i  3 


5     4 

Cattle  plague  (Rinderpest)  raged  here  1480, 
1715,  1745,  1750,  1865,  1866  and  1869. 

No.  of  cattle  in  Goosnargh-with-Newsham, 
1866:— 

Milch  cows    1074 

Two  years  old       437 

Under  two  years 937 

Total     2448 

Sheep     2373 

Lambs 12 

Pigs       311 

When  the  writer  was  a  boy  there  were  only 
about  two  spring  conveyances  kept  in  Goosnargh, 
only  two  men  with  the  prefix  of  Mr.  (Mr.  Sid- 
greaves  and  Mr.  Wilkinson),  and  only  about  half 
a  dozen  females  dubbed  by  the  name  of  "  Miss," 
and  not  one  man  that  wore  his  beard.  At  the 
same  time  a  farmer  could  not  ride  on  a  board  put 
across  a  common  cart  without  paying  duty  for 
it. 

RIDING    THE   STANG. 

Riding  the  Stang  was  once  common  here,  but 
has  given  place  to  "  chaffing,"  which  appears  to 
be  quite  as  effective.  When  a  man  was  known 


PAST  AND   PRESENT.  309 

to  be  guilty  of  thrashing  his  wife,  a  man  rode  a 
horse,  seated  with  his  face  to  the  tail,  through 
the  country  ;  and  it  was  considered  to  be  lawful 
if  performed  through  three  townships,  if  less  than 
three  the  man  had  legal  remedy  on  the  plea  of 
defamation  of  character. 


SECOND   SIGHT. 

Many  well  authenticated  cases  of  "  second 
sight "  have  occurred  here :  Seeing  people  in 
one  place  when  at  the  same  time  they  are  in 
another.  Sensational  phenomenon  yet  to  be 
explained. 

GIPSIES. 

Gipsies  are  sometimes  found  "  camping  "  here, 
generally  following  the  trades  or  occupations  of 
tinkers,  potters,  and  fortune  tellers  (when  they 
can  do  it  on  the  sly).  The  latter  is  often  a  profit- 
able business ;  the  plant  costs  little  ;  and  most 
lasses  are  anxious  to  know  who  their  husbands 
are  to  be. 

A  noted  instance  of  what  incredible  belief  some 
people  have  in  the  power  of  fortune  tellers 
occurred  at  my  own  door  about  50  years  ago. 
My  next  door  neighbour  (no  novice  in  public 
business,  which  makes  the  case  more  remarkable), 
got  acquainted  with  a  Gipsy  woman  who  was 
"  camping "  with  her  fellows  near  to  Scotch 
green,  and  she  no  doubt  having  picked  up  a  good 
smattering  of  his  history,  thereby  so  worked  upon 
him  as  to  inspire  in  him  a  most  absurd  and  in- 
credible belief  in  her  magical  powers  as  to  make 


3IO  GOOSNARGH  : 

him  believe — (what  is  there  so  absurd  that  some 
people  will  not  believe) — that  there  was  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  gold  hid  (  "  in  troubleous 
times")  somewhere  about  his  house,  and  if  he 
would  deposit  thirty  sovereigns  in  a  certain 
drawer  in  his  parlour,  this  hidden  treasure 
would  be  charmed  to  them  ;  but  mind  you  this 
charm  would  not  work  effectually  unless  those 
thirty  gold  pieces  passed  through  her  hands,  and 
the  process  was  to  be  thus :  His  thirty  sovereigns 
were  to  be  made  into  a  brown  paper  parcel — to 
pass  through  her  hands,  and  back  again  to  his — to 
be  deposited  accordingly.  The  credulous  farmer 
believing  the  old  witch,  provided  the  brown 
paper  parcel  accordingly,  and  of  course  in  passing 
through  her  hands  it  changed  hands,  from  a 
brown  paper  parcel  of  sovereigns  to  a  brown 
paper  parcel  of  small  pieces  of  lead — (I  have  some 
of  them  in  my  possession) — with  a  strong  injunc- 
tion not  to  mention  the  circumstance  to  anyone 
whatever  for  the  space  of  a  fortnight,  or  the 
charm  wouldbe  broken,  and  no  doubt  it  would  have 
been.  As  soon  as  the  old  hag  had  accomplished 
her  design,  and  pocketed  the  thirty  bright  pieces, 
she  with  her  confederates  packed  up  and  marched 
off,  going  north,  to  Lancaster  or  that  neighbour- 
hood, and  from  thence  turning  to  the  south. 
The  sequel  to  the  above  incredible  story  is 
about  as  strange  as  the  tale  itself.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  the  said  fortnight,  the  drawer  was 
opened,  and  the  swindle  discovered.  Two  cute 
and  trusty  friends  of  the  old  bewitched  man  set 
off  in  pursuit  of  the  gipsy  caravan  ;  a  wild  goose 
chase  it  seemed,  but  nevertheless  they  chased 
the  fugitives  to  Cheshire,  and  there  found  them 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  311 

encamping  on  Delamere  forest,  and  by  lynch  or 
club  law  recovered  the  cash  in  full  weight  and 
measure,  and  restored  it  to  the  credulous  old  man 
(minus  their  expenses,  five  pounds),  but  without 
any  addition  of  Oliver  Cromwell's  hidden  treas- 
ure. 

BOGGARTS. 

There  are  at  least  two  Boggart  Haunts  in 
Goosnargh — Jingling  lane,  at  Beesley  farm  ;  and 
Boggart  Plat,  in  Goosnargh  mill  lane.  Of  the 
origin  of  the  former  I  find  no  trace  ;  but  of 
Boggart  Plat  Ghost  there  is  a  well  authenticated 
story  :  that  it  arose  through  the  vagary  of  one 
William  Co  well,  formerly  and  for  many  years 
Sexton  of  Goosnargh  Chuich,  and  residing  at 
Mill  Top.  He  having  imbibed  pretty  freely  of 
what  he  had  a  liking  for  at  the  village,  and 
having  occasion  to  take  the  bier  and  pall  home 
to  keep  overnight  in  readiness  to  pass  on  north- 
wards the  following  morning — (carrying  the  corpse 
was  then  the  order  of  the  day) — and  finding  his  load 
inside  and  out  heavy  and  fatiguing,  he  put  down 
the  bier  on  a  small  piece  of  waste  land  near  to 
the  said  plat,  covering  himself  with  the  pall  to 
have  a  nap  and  refresh  himself;  and  being  found 
by  a  passer  by  in  that  unusual  position,  it  gave 
rise  to  the  legend  of  Boggart  Plat. 

I  have  travelled  those  roads  frequently  at  all 
hours,  but  never  met  with  anything  unearthly 
at  either  of  those  noted  boggart  places. 

BEARDS. 

A  writer  in  Notes  and  Queries  says  of  Mat- 
thew Robinson — Lord  Rokeby,  1798 — that  his 


3 1  2  GOOSNARGH  : 

beard  formed  the  most  conspicuous  trait  of  his 
person,  and  that  he  was  the  only  Peer,  and 
perhaps  the  only  gentleman,  of  either  Great 
Britain  or  Ireland,  who  at  that  period  was  thus 
distinguished. 

What  advances  the  beard  has  lately  made ;  60 
years  ago  not  one  man  in  Goosnargh  wore  his 
beard. 

OLD   CUSTOM   OF   LIFTING. 

Lifting  at  Easter  was  formerly  common  here, 
but  now  is  but  little  heard  of. 

A  scene  of  this  old  custom  has  been  amusingly 
described  by  a  country  girl,  as  follows,  in  broad 
Lancashire. — (Hoo  means  she.) — "  When  James 
and  Thomas  and  Jack  and  Peter  came  to  lift 
Ellen,  '  hoo  punched  an'  hoo  scrat,  an'  hoo  nipp'd 
an'  hoo  scrat,  an'  hoo  kicked  James,  an'  hoo 
basted  Peter,  an'  hoo  lugg'd  Thomas,  an'  hoo 
stampt  up  o'th  floor,  an'  hoo  shouted  murder.'  " 

SHOE-THROWING. 

The  old  custom  of  shoe-throwing  at  marriages 
is  sometimes  practised  here,  but  appears  to  have 
all  but  lost  its  original  signification. 

During  the  marriage  festival  it  was  formerly 
the  practice  to  throw  an  old  shoe  into  some 
shrubbery  or  amongst  some  brushwood,  and  the 
maids  attending  the  wedding  scrambled  for  it  in 
their  bridal  gear,  and  it  was  said  that  the  young 
lady  who  could  retrieve  it  would  be  the  next 
married. 

Throwing  of  rice  at  weddings  is  well  kept  up 
here,  and  is  a  very  ancient  custom,  betokening 
fruitfulness. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  313 

CHRISTENING   CUSTOM. 

An  old  christening  custom  is  when  two  chil- 
dren, a  boy  and  a  girl,  have  to  be  christened  at 
one  time,  the  boy  is  christened  the  first.  The 
old  nurse  said  "  it  is  reasonable." 

LEAF  SUPERSTITION. 

A  leaf  superstition  yet  lingers  here  to  this 
effect: — Take  in  your  hand  a  four-leafed  ash  and 
a  four-leafed  clover,  and  expect  as  follows : — 

An  even-leafed  ash 

And  a  four-leafed  clover, 

You'll  see  your  true  lover 
'Fore  the  day  is  over. 

TITHE   BARNS. 

I  don't  find  that  a  tithe  barn  ever  existed  in 
Goosnargh,  but  before  the  tithes  were  commuted 
they  were  common  all  over  the  country ;  and  we 
had  one  in  Tithe  Barn  Meadow,  Whittingham 
near  to  Goosnargh  Church,  and  probably  at  one 
time  it  was  common  to  both  Goosnargh  and 
Whittingham. 

CHURCHING    OF   WOMEN. 

It  is  not  usual  for  the  mothers  of  illegitimate 
children  to  be  churched,  yet  we  find  from  Crabb's 
poems  it  was  the  custom  in  his  day.  He 
writes : — 

Recorded  next  a  babe  of  love  I  trace 
Of  many  loves,  the  mother's  first  disgrace  ; 
For  rite  of  churching  soon  she  made  her  way 
In  dread  of  scandal,  should  she  miss  the  day. 
Two  matrons  came,  with  them  she  humbly  knelt, 
Their  actions  copied  and  their  comforts  felt. 


314  GOOSNARGH: 

In  the  early  part  of  the  lyth  ceutury  there  is 
a  record  of  the  churching  of  women  at  Preston, 
but  I  don't  find  any  here,  nor  am  I  aware  of  any 
authority  for  keeping  such  record. 

YEW  TREES  IN  CHURCH  YARDS. 

Of  yew  trees  in  church-yards  the  tradition  is 
that  those  trees  were  formerly  planted  in  church- 
yards (being  the  most  protected  parts)  to  provide 
the  best  materials  of  which  long  bows  were  made. 
The  late  Vicar  planted  some  yew  trees  in  Goos- 
nargh  church-yard,  but  they  have  been  sadly 
neglected. 

ORIGIN   OF   CHURCH    REGISTERS. 

Church  registers  commence  in  the  year  1538, 
about  40  of  which  contain  entries  (copied  prob- 
ably from  memorandums  kept  in  old  monastries, 
family  bibles,  or  on  tomb  stones,  and  those  at 
that  date  would  be  rare)  anterior  to  Cromwell's 
injunction.  Here  the  church  registers  have  been 
fairly  kept,  but  the  commission  of  inquiry  in 
1831  into  the  state  of  church  registers  disclosed 
a  sad  and  in  some  cases  a  shameful  neglect  of 
those  precious  documents.  Thanks  for  civil 
registration. 

HOUR   GLASSES. 

Hour  glasses  were  formerly  affixed  to  pulpits 
to  let  ministers  know  when  they  were  preaching 
how  the  time  had  sped,  and  a  few  yet  remain,  at 
least  their  stands,  but  I  have  not  been  able  to 
discover  that  one  ever  existed  here.  They  were 
made  to  run  18  minutes;  a  broad  hint  for  short 
sermons. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT.  315 

WILL  O'THE  WISP. 

Will  O'the  Wisp  or  Will  with  the  Wisp.  The 
cause  of  this  phenomenon  (of  which  see  Ingle- 
white)  has  not  been  satisfactorily  proved  ;  the 
general  opinion  is  that  it  is  caused  by  a  gaseous 
vapour,  but  others  think  by  a  flying  insect. 

BURYING  WITHOUT  COFFINS. 

I  have  not  discovered  any  record  of  burying 
without  coffins  in  this  township,  but  in  some 
parts  of  England  it  was  not  uncommon  so  late  as 
1707  for  the  poorer  sort  of  people  to  bury  with- 
out coffins,  and  the  fees  for  burying  without 
coffins  were  less  than  burying  with,  and  when 
corpses  were  buried  without  coffins  the  by- 
standers were  directed  to  throw  in  earth  as  soon 
as  the  ceremony  was  over,  and  from  that  no 
doubt  the  practice  now  of  throwing  in  earth  has 
come  down  to  the  present  time. 

An  Act  was  passed  in  1666  requiring  (under 
penalty  of  five  pounds)  all  parties  to  bury  their 
dead  in  woollen,  but  was  repealed  in  1677.  This 
law  was  much  disliked,  being  an  infringement  of 
the  liberty  of  the  subject.  The  following  verse 
is  indicative  of  that  feeling  : — 

Odious  in  woollen,  'twould  a  saint  provoke  ; 
(Were  the  last  words  that  poor  Narcissa  spoke), 
No,  let  a  charming  chintz  and  Brussels  lace 
Wrap  my  cold  limbs  and  shade  my  lifeless  face. 

The  first  mention  of  a  coffin  I  find  in  the  last 
verse  of  the  last  chapter  of  Genesis,  where  it  is 
stated  that  Joseph  died  at  no  years  of  age,  and 
being  embalmed,  was  laid  in  a  coffin  in  Egypt. 


316  GOOSNARGH  : 

COCKFIGHTING. 

Cockfighting  was  somewhat  common  60  or  70 
years  ago,  but  I  am  not  aware  that  it  is  at  now 
all  practiced.  In  Strutt's  "  Sports  and  Pastimes  "  I 
find  this  note  on  a  Welsh  main  : — A  main  game 
was  connected  with  the  barbarous  pastime  of 
cockfighting,  it  consists  of  certain  or  given 
number  of  pairs  of  cocks,  suppose  sixteen,  which 
fight  with  each  other  until  the  half  of  them  are 
killed ;  the  sixteen  conquerors  are  pitted  a  second 
time  in  like  manner  and  half  are  slain  ;  the  eight 
survivors  a  third  time;  the  four  a  fourth  time; 
and  the  remaining  two  a  fifth  time;  so  that 
thirty-one  cocks  are  sure  to  be  inhumanly 
butchered  for  the  sport  and  pleasure  of  the 
spectators ! 

ROBIN   RED   BREAST. 

The  Robin  is  very  fortunate  in  the  supersti- 
tions that  attach  to  it.  The  legend  that  attri- 
butes its  red  breast  to  its  having  attended  our 
Lord  upon  the  cross,  when  some  of  His  blood 
was  sprinkled  on  it  may  have  died  out  of  the 
memory,  but  still — 

"  There's  a  Divinity  that  doth  hedge  a  robin." 

MISTLETOE. 

Hanging  up  the  mistletoe  bush  in  the  kitchen 
or  servants'  hall  is  well  kept  up  here  and  very 
properly  well  patronised. 

FRIEND-MADE    MATCHES. 

Friend-made  matches  are  sadly  too  common 
here  ;  a  fruitful  source  of  much  unhappiness.  If 
you  want  to  make  a  woman  miserable  for  life 
marry  her  to  a  man  she  has  no  affection  for. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT.  317 

CARTERS'  LANGUAGE. 

Goosnargh  carters'  language — come  eggin, 
come  hither ;  gee  eggin  or  hate  off,  go  from  me  ; 
gee  up,  go  on ;  who,  whoa,  wheygh,  stop  or 
stand  still.  History  informs  us  that  a  celebrated 
combat  of  duel,  which  took  place  at  Sheffield 
in  the  year  1467,  between  the  bastard  of  Bur- 
gundy and  Lord  Scales,  was  arrested  at  the 
third  encounter  by  the  King  (Edward  IV.) 
throwing  down  his  staff  and  calling  out 
"  Whoo." 


SELLING   A    WIFE   AND    EXCOMMUNICATION. 

In  some  respects  we  are  more  righteous  than 
our  neighbours,  for  I  find  no  record  or  well 
authenticated  account  of  anyone  selling  his  wife 
or  being  excommunicated. 

BETTING. 

Betting  is  sadly  too  common  here,  also 
gaming  at  cards.  I  make  no  objection  to  playing 
at  cards,  far  from  it ;  but  playing  with  cards  and 
gaming  with  cards  are  two  different  things ;  and 
the  same  may  be  said  of  chess  and  drafts. 

PET   NAMES. 

Pet  Names  are  common  here  :  Fan,  Sal,  Liz, 
Bess,  Poll,  Sue,  Nell,  Moll,  Bell,  Peg— and_so  on ; 
Jonny,  Jackey,  Tommy,  Willy,  Jemmy,  Jimmy, 
Dickey,  Bobby,  Georgy,  Davey,  Harry,  Jerry, 
Tony,  Neddy,  Charley,  Kester,  &c.,  &c. 


31  8  GOOSNARGH  : 


BEES. 

We  have  many  lovers  of  those  industrious 
insects — bees ;  but  in  this  northern  district,  and 
clove^  and  bean  fields  being  now  so  few  and  far 
between,  bees  are  seldom  productive  here,  especi- 
ally in  cold  and  wet  seasons.  Pure  honey  from  the 
poor  man's  garden  sweetens  his  tea  and  coffee. 

"  The  principal  for  the  whole  use  of  man's  life 
are  water,  fire,  iron  and  salt,  flower  of  wheat, 
honey,  milk,  and  the  blood  of  the  grape,  and  oil 
and  clothing." — Ecclesiasticus  29  c.,  26  v. 


WHITE   THORN. 

A  popular  belief  is  that  when  the  white  thorn 
bears  an  abundant  crop  of  fruit,  a  hard  winter  is 
indicated,  from  the  notion  of  its  being  a  provision 
for  a  class  of  birds  that  otherwise  would  be  in 
danger  of  starving.  This  idea  of  a  kind  Provi- 
dence is  at  least  pleasing. 

GOING   ROUND   WITH   THE   HAT. 

We  have  a  good  old  custom  here  of  going 
round  with  the  hat  at  poor  people's  funerals,  but 
not  so  much  needed  as  formerly — thanks  for 
burial  clubs. 

HORSE   SHOE   SUPERSTITION. 

It  is  common  here  to  see  a  horse  shoe  nailed 
to  a  stable  door,  an  old  remnant  of  a  superstition 
of  placing  one  there  as  a  protection  against 
witches.  The  belief  in  wizards  and  witches  took 


PAST   AND    PRESENT.  319 

great  hold  of  the  people  here  about  300  years  ago, 
but  I  don't  find  that  any  of  the  inhabitants 
suffered  the  extreme  penalty  of  the  law  for  being 
accused  of  or  for  confessing  this  imaginary  crime. 

MARRIAGES   IN    THE    TIME    OF    OLIVER    CROMWELL. 

During  the  usurpation  of  Cromwell  (1653), 
marriage  was  declared  to  be  merely  a  civil  con- 
tract, and  after  banns  published  three  times  in 
the  church  or  market  place,  they  were  to  profess 
their  mutual  desire  to  be  married  in  the  presence 
of  a  magistrate — that  was  all ;  but  in  1656  parties 
were  allowed  to  adopt  their  accustomed  rites  of 
religion,  if  they  preferred  them. 

LARKING. 

Formerly  this  district  was  much  noted  for 
larking  among  the  youth  of  both  sexes,  but 
especially  amongst  the  males.  Rich,  lively,  in- 
nocent, wild,  frollicking  acts  were  committed 
that  have  been  handed  down  from  father  to  son, 
and  son's  son  ;  but  that  frollicking  spirit  or  genius 
seems  to  be  lacking  in  the  youth  of  the  present 
day. 

LADY    BACON'S   ADVICE. 

Lady  Bacon's  advice  to  Lord  Bacon  and  his 
brother  is  much  needed  here: — Look  well  to 
your  health,  sup  not  nor  sit  up  late.  Surely 
your  drinking  to  bed-wards  hindreth  your  and 
your  brother's  digestion  very  much.  I  never 
knew  any  but  sickly  that  used  it,  besides  being 
ill  for  heads  and  eyes.  To  which  I  add  if  you 
wish  to  encourage  night-mare  take  a  hearty, 
heavy  supper  and  go  to  sleep  on  your  back. 


32O  GOOSNARGH  : 

HANGING   OUT   THE    BROOM. 

Hanging  out  the  Broom  is  well  kept  up  here, 
a  sign  of  the  mistress  being  absent ;  a  good  op- 
portunity for  a  bachelor's  party  on  the  "joyful 
occasion." 

THE   BIBLE. 

The  Bible  is  to  be  met  with  in  many  of  the 
houses  here,  but  I  am  sorry  to  say  this  is  not  a 
reading  district — the  newspaper  excepted.  Well, 
a  good  newspaper  is  no  bad  week-fay  book. 

THE    HOMILIES. 

The  homilies  have  not  been  read  here  in  my 
day  (would  they  were),  but  I  find  that  good  old 
practice  has  not  quite  died  out  in  some  parts  of 
England. 

POST. 

Penny  post  was  first  established  at  Goosnargh 
on  the  loth  March,  1840.  Formerly  the  postage 
from  Preston  was  3d. ;  Liverpool  8d.  and  Lon- 
don is.  id.  Money  orders  were  first  issued  in 
England  in  1839.  The  postal  system  is  a  very 
ancient  institution,  for  in  the  gth  chapter  of  the 
book  of  Job  and  the  25th  verse  we  read  : — My 
days  are  swifter  than  a  post.  Also  Esther  3  c. 
13  v.,  and  8  c.  10  v. 

WEATHER   CHRONICLE. 

March  borrowed  of  April 

Three  days,  and  they  were  ill, 

The  first  was  rain,  the  second  was  snow, 

The  third  such  a  wind  as  never  did  blow. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  321 

MOULTRE. 

Formerly  a  brisk  but  very  dishonest  trade  was 
carried  on  here  in  "  Moultre."  Cotton  masters 
at  one  time  were  not  very  tight  as  to  what  weft 
they  delivered  with  the  warp  to  be  woven,  and 
consequently  weavers  could  "cabbage"  a  goodly 
quantity  of  overplus  weft  (and  in  some  instances 
yarn)  which  they  disposed  of  to  itinerant  pur- 
chasers. With  the  decline  of  the  hand-loom 
cotton  weaving  business  and  a  tighter  scale  of 
delivery  of  weft  this  nefarious  business  came  to 
an  end. 

GOOSNARGH    CHURCH    LEGEND. 

According  to  an  old  legend  it  was  intended  to 
build  Goosnargh  Church  in  a  field  in  Beesley 
Estate,  Goosnargh,  the  property  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Oliverson,  but  that  some  fairy  or  other  lusty 
body  carried  away  in  the  night  all  the  materials 
they  had  provided  to  where  the  Church  now 
stands,  except  one  large  boulder-stone  about  a  ton 
in  weight. 

FAIRY    RINGS. 

Fairy  rings  are  common  here,  and  with  some 
of  the  more  ancient  inhabitants  are  looked  upon 
with  superstitious  eye — yet  are  nothing  more 
than  the  effect  of  a  decayed  fungus.  Every 
fungus  exhausts  the  ground  on  which  it  grows 
so  that  no  other  can  exist  on  the  same  spot.  It 
sheds  its  seeds  around,  and  on  the  second  year 
instead  of  a  single  fungus  as  a  centre  a  number 
arise  in  an  entire  ring  around  the  spot  where  the 
first  stood ;  these  exhaust  the  ground  on  which 
u 


322  GOOSNARGH  : 

they  come  to  perfection,  and  in  the  succeeding 
year  the  ring  becomes  farger  upon  the  same 
principle. 

GOOD   OLD  TIMES. 

Good  old  times,  as  by  some  they  are  yet  called. 
The  writer  can  remember  salt  at  4d.  per  Ib. ; 
coarse  brown  sugar  8d.  per  Ib. ;  flour  6d.  per  Ib. ; 
tea  8s.  per  Ib. ;  windows  taxed  (if  more  than 
seven)  and  a  farmer  having  to  pay  assessed  taxes 
if  he  put  a  board  to  ride  upon  across  a  common 
cart. 

FASHIONS. 

High-heeled  shoes  have  been  twice  in  fashion 
here  amongst  the  ladies  within  the  last  70  years 
— they  must  have  been  very  uncomfortable. 
Well,  "fashion  before  ease."  Seventy  years  ago 
a  woman's  Leghorn  bonnet  was  about  18  inches 
long,  and  at  different  periods  females  have  mani- 
fested a  taste  for  dressing  as  near  like  men  as 
they  dare.  Men's  pig-tails  were  just  falling  off 
when  I  was  ushered  into  the  world.  Can  the 
fair  sex  invent  anything  more  ridiculous  ? 

DANCING  AND  DRINKING. 

Dancing  and  drinking,  alas !  are  too  common 
here.  Sow  to  the  wind  and  reap  the  whirlwind. 
King  David  danced,  it  is  true,  but  his  dancing 
was  something  more  than  mere  leg-flinging  and 
whirling  and  twisting  in  a  mixed  ballroom. 

OLD   MARRIAGE   CUSTOM. 

When  a  younger  sister  marries  before  her 
elder  sister,  the  elder  one  is  expected  to  dance  at 
the  marriage  festival  in  her  "  stocking  feet." 


PAST  AND  PRESENT.          323 
THE  CUCKOO. 

Old  saying : — The  cuckoo  comes  in  mid- April 
and  sings  in  mid-May,  and  the  first  cock  of  hay 
drives  it  away — often  we  have  it  much  earlier. 

WRITING   WITH   AN    IRON    PEN. 

The  old  custom  of  writing  with  an  iron  pen  in 
lead  alluded  to  by  Job  19  c.  23  24  v.,  has  been 
adopted  in  one  instance  on  a  tombstone  in  Goos- 
nargh  Church-yard.  "  Oh  !  that  my  words  were 
now  written  or  that  they  were  printed  in  a  book ; 
that  they  were  graven  with  an  iron  pen  and  lead 
in  the  rock  for  ever." 

SILOS. 

Silos  are  just  springing  up  in  this  neighbour- 
hood and  ensilage  made  therein  and  in  stacks  is 
a  new  departure,  the  advantage  whereof  is  yet 
to  be  seen.  From  good  grass  in  fine  weather  and 
by  good  management,  good  hay  has  been  made. 

FIRST   COUSINS. 

Marriage  between  first  cousins  is  common  here. 
A  false  notion  prevails  that  it  is  not  lawful  for 
second  cousins  to  marry  but  yet  lawful  for  first 
cousins. 

CORN   SHEAF   CUSTOM. 

The  old  custom  of  giving  to  each  cow  a  sheaf 
of  corn  on  Christmas  day  in  the  morning  is  fast 
dying  out,  owing  perhaps  to  the  land  going  out 
of  cultivation  for  grain . 
u  2 


324  GOOSNARGH : 

WEDDING   PRESENTS. 

Wedding  presents  are  commonly  made  to 
brides  on  their  marriage  day,  and  in  some 
instances  in  great  profusion,  but  in  some  countries 
a  much  better  marriage  custom  prevails,  namely 
making  presents  to  the  poor,  as  a  wind-up  to 
marriage  festivals. 

TOADS. 

There  are  many  well  authenticated  accounts 
of  live  toads  having  been  found  in  solid  rocks  and 
boulder  stones  in  this  neighbourhood — remark- 
able phenomena  which  I  dare  not  pronounce 
upon. 

FOOTBALL. 

Football  is  an  old  game  here,  and  just  now 
there  is  quite  a  rage  for  it,  but  it  is  not  played  as 
of  yore,  on  Sundays.  A  manly,  athletic  but 
rather  rough  amusement  and  recreation.  Well 
will  it  be  if  betting  can  be  kept  out  of  it. 

BEATON    FELL. 

Beaton  fell,  Goosnargh,  from  its  name  no  doubt 
a  beacon  has  at  one  time  been  erected  upon  it. 
On  Beacons  (1685)  Lord  Macaulay  writes: — 
"  On  the  copes  of  the  sea  coast  and  on  many 
inland  hills  were  still  seen  tall  posts  sur- 
mounted by  barrels.     Once  those  barrels 
had  been  filled  with  pitch.     Watchmen 
had  been  set  around  them  in  seasons  of 
danger  ;  and  within  a  few  hours  after  a 
Spanish  sail  had  been  discovered  in  the 


PAST  AND   PRESENT.  325 

channel,  or  after  a  thousand  Scottish  moss 
troopers  had  crossed  the  Tweed  the  signal 
fires  were  blazing  fifty  miles  off,  and  whole 
countries  were  rising  in  arms." 

POT-HOUSE   DRINKING. 

"  Good  health  "— "  Good  luck  "— "  My  respects 
to  you  " — "  Come  here's  to  you  " — "  Come,  there's 
another  good  luck." 

MAGPIE   SUPERSTITION. 

A  superstition  on  seeing  magpies  prevails  here 
as  well  as  in  many  other  parts : — 

"  One  for  anger,  two  for  mirth, 
Three  for  a  wedding  and  four  for  a  death,"  &c. 

CHURCHING   PEW. 

Formerly  we  had  a  churching  pew  here  which 
stood  hard  by  the  font,  but  disappeared  when  the 
Church  was  restored  in  1869;  and  when  the 
minister  saw  a  woman  in  it  he  without  further 
notice  read  the  service  ordained  for  that  purpose. 
Just  fancy  the  feelings  of  the  old  maid  who 
stumbled  into  it  or  was  peevishly  directed  there, 
and  got  churched  ! 

JOHN   EVELYN   ON   PAINT. 

Some  few  of  the  fair  sex  here  paint,  of  which 
practice  John  Evelyn  in  his  Diary  says : — "I  now 
observe  that  women  begin  to  paint  themselves, 
formerly  a  most  ignominious  thing  used  only  by 
prostitutes." 


326  GOOSNARGH: 


SIGN  POSTS. 


We  have  a  few  sign  posts  at  cross  roads,  more 
would  be  useful ;  and  if  those  we  have  were  kept 
in  better  order  it  would  be  an  improvement. 


WEATHER. 

In  March,  1886,  we  had  ice  seven  inches  thick, 
and  from  the  gth  to  the  I5th  May  we  had  storms, 
floods,  sleet,  snow  and  hail,  and  snow  lay  on 
Bleasdale  fell  all  the  week,  and  nearly  all  the 
swallows  perished  through  cold  and  want  of  food  ; 
they  were  found  lying  dead  by  scores  if  not  by 
hundreds. 


ANCIENT   DINNER   SERVICE. 

At  Lower  Lickhurst  farm  there  formerly  ex- 
isted a  complete  dinner  service  of  pewter  which 
I  have  often  admired,  but  which  has  lately  dis- 
appeared, and  I  have  not  been  able  to  trace  its 
whereabouts. 


WATER   WORKS. 

In  1883-4  the  Fulwood  Local  Board  established 
waterworks  for  Goosnargh,  Whittingham  and 
other  places  ;  the  principal  reservoir  is  at  Barns- 
fold,  and  is  calculated  to  supply  Whittingham 
Asylum  and  Fulwood,  &c.,  with  200,000  gallons 
a  day.  The  Board  has  also  two  other  reservoirs, 
one  at  the  Horns  and  the  other  at  Haighton. 


PAST  AND   PRESENT.  3 

CHURCH   AND   SCHOOL   LAND   IN   GOOSNARGH 
BELONGING   TO   OUT-TOWNSHIPS. 
A.    R.  P. 


Barnsfold  85 

i  39  belong 
3  28 

0    12 

3  39 
3  20 

3  II 
I     i 

o     3 
o  31 
3  30 

2   30 

ling  to  Tockholes  Church. 
Warton  Church. 
Lytham  Church. 
Broughton  School. 
Walkerfold  Chapel 
Admarsh  Church. 
BroughtonChurch. 
BroughtonChurch. 
Harwood  Church. 
Garstang  Church. 
Broughton  School. 

Ryeheads  30 

Ryeheads  10 

Golden  Tanners..    8 
Little  Inglewhite    3 
Loud  Bridge    ...    5 
Mill  Top  29 

White  Moss  I 

Rig-p  ...              ...  60 

Goosnargh  Lane.    6 
Goosnargh  Lane.    6 

MARL. 

"  He  that  marls  sand  may  buy  land, 
He  that  marls  moss  shall  have  no  loss, 
He  that  marls  clay  flings  all  away." 

1864.  Apples  4d.  per  score. 

1877.  Damsons  is.  per  quart. 
„      Blackberry  8d.  per  quart. 
„      Cranberry  6d.  to  8d.  per  quart. 

Antidote  for  Cholera.  Three  or  four  drops  of 
camphor  in  a  wine  glass  of  water,  and  if  relief  is 
not  afforded  in  the  course  of  ten  minutes  the 
dose  may  be  repeated.  This  is  seldom  known  to 
fail. 

Recipe  for  Mange,  &c.  One  pennyworth  of 
brown  alaber  wood  in  powder,  mixed  with  £lb. 
of  lard  for  horses.  Scab  in  sheep,  and  itch  in 
man.  Well  rubbed  in. 

Cleansing  Drink  for  a  Cow.  ^-Ib.  of  linseed, 
^lb.  of  treacle,  ^lb.  of  butter,  3  pints  of  nettle 
root  tea.  One  half  at  night  and  the  other  half 
in  the  morning. 


328  GOOSNARGH  : 

Remedy  for  Slavering  Distemper.  One  quart 
of  sweet  oil  for  a  full  grown  cow,  given  all  at 
one ;  quantity  in  proportion  for  a  young  cow. 

Poultice  for  Joint  Foul.  3lbs.  of  onions  well 
chopped  and  well  mxed  in  fat,  lib.  of  soft  soap, 
with  oat  meal  and  linseed  poultices  added.  Put 
in  a  very  strong  bag  and  kept  on  three  or  four 
days. 

Recipe  for  Milk  Fever.  ^lb.  of  a  peck  of  lin- 
seed (a  peck  is  the  fourth  part  of  a  bush  el),  put  into 
sop  at  night  and  given  in  the  morning,  and  a 
similar  quantity  put  into  sop  in  the  morning  and 
given  at  night. 

Edith-sick  Prescription.  2  oz.  of  Castile  soap 
given  in  a  quart  of  warm  water. 

for  "  Shoot"  in  Sheep.  Two  table  spoonfuls 
of  fat. 

OLD  CUSTOMS. 

Fishwick  in  his  history  says : — That  ancient 
form  of  punishment  by  cuckstool  was  formerly 
observed  in  this  district,  and  a  pit  at  Inglewhite 
quite  recently  filled  up  was  known  as  "  Cuckstool 
Pit,"  and  not  very  many  years  ago  the  upright 
shaft  of  this  instrument  of  torture  was  standing 
on  its  brink. 

PROVERBS. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  every-day 
proverbs  used  here,  a  few  of  which  are  peculiar 
to  this  district : — 

A  wet  and  a  windy  May  makes  a  barn  full  of 

corn  and  hay. 
A  full  crop  of  haws  forecasts  a  hard  winter. 


J»L« 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  329 

^      I  If  you  have  plenty  of  grass  in  winter  sell  a  cow, 
L     if  the  land  be  bare  in  May  buy  one. 
A  mine  begins  in  the  cow's  boost  (stall). 
If  you  have  a  full  crop  of  hay-grass  mow  near 

the  hedges. 

Old  porridge  is  sooner  warmed  up  than  new- 
made. 

If  you  look  at  your  corn  in  May 
You  will  come  weeping  away, 
If  you  look  at  it  again  in  June 
You  will  change  your  tune. 
We  cannot  live  by  the  dead. 
Choose  a  house  that  the  wind  will  blow  round. 
A  cat  in  pattens  catches  no  mice. 
Faced  all  round  like  Preston  Town  Hall  clock. 
The  old  religion  was : — He  that  believeth  and  is 

baptised  shall  be  saved. 

The  new  religion  is: — Be  sprinkled  and  doubt. 
A  wise  man  will   stay  for  a  convenient  season 

and  will  bend  a  little  rather  than  be  torn  up 

by  the  roots. 
Tell  me  what  company  you  keep  and  I  will  tell 

you  what  you  do. 
A  handful  of  mother-wit  is  worth  a  bushel  of 

learning. 
The  sum  of  all  is  to  serve  God  well  and  to  do 

no  ill  thing. 

Setting  down  in  writing  is  a  lasting  memory. 
If  you  love  me,  John,  your  deeds  will  tell  me  so. 
The  fool  fell  in  love  with  the  lady's  laced  apron. 
Nothing  is  valuable  in  this  world  except  it  tends 

to  the  next. 
There  never  was  but  one  man  who  never  did  a 

fault. 
Civil,  obliging  language  costs  but  little,  and  does 

a  great  deal  of  good. 


33O  GOOSNARGH  : 

A  mule  and  a  woman  do  best  by  fair  means. 
He  who  spits  against  heaven  spits  upon  his  face. 
A  mischief  may  happen  which  will  do  me  (or 

make  me)  good. 
Good  deeds  will  live  and  flourish  when  all  other 

things  are  at  an  end. 
Since  you  know  everything  and  I  know  nothing 

will  you  tell  me  what  I  dreamed  this  morn- 
ing ? 
Afflictions  teach  much,  but  they  are  a  hard,  cruel 

master. 
There  is  no  more  faithful  or  pleasant  friend  than 

a  good  book. 

No  old  age  is  agreeable  but  that  of  a  wise  man. 
Compare  your  griefs  with  other  men's  and  they 

will  seem  less. 
He  can  do  nothing  well  who  is  at  enmity  with 

his  God. 
One  ounce  of  mirth  is  worth  more   than   ten 

thousand  weight  of  melancholy. 
Great  housekeeping  makes  but  a  poor  will. 
Speak  but  little  and  to  the  purpose  and  you  will 

pass  for  somebody. 
Proverbs  bear  age,  and  he  who  would  do  well 

may  view  himself  in  them  as  in  a  looking- 
glass. 

In  every  work  begin  and  end  with  God. 
Cheer  up,  man,  God  is  still  where  he  was. 
Of  a  little  meddling  comes  great  care. 
Better  spare  at  the  brim  than  at  the  bottom. 
Prayer  brings  down  the  first  blessing  and  praise 

the  second. 

Better  half  a  loaf  than  no  bread. 
A  good  word  is  as  soon  said  as  a  bad  one. 
Great  cry  and  little  wool. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  33! 

When  sorrow  is  asleep  wake  it  not. 

He  who  gives  alms  makes  the  very  best  use  of  his 

money. 

Peace  with  heaven  is  the  best  friendship. 
A  wonder  lasts  but  nine  days. 
Bachelors'  wives  and  maids'   children  are  well 

taught. 

Pride  goes  before  and  shame  follows  after. 
Quick  believers  need  broad  shoulders. 
If  every   man  will   mend   one  we  all  shall  be 

mended. 

He  who  seeks  trouble  never  misseth  it. 
Fly  the  pleasure  that  Avill  bite  to-morrow. 
If  all  fools  wore  white  caps  we  should  look  like 

a  flock  of  geese. 
Living  well  is  the  best  revenge  we  can  make  on 

our  enemies. 

Better  suffer  a  great  evil  than  do  a  little  one. 
Fools  worship  mules  that  carry  gold. 
Take  care  to  be  what  thou  wouldest  seem. 
Silks  and  satins  put  out  the  kitchen  fire. 
Let  us  ride  fair  and  softly  that  we  may  come 

home  the  sooner. 

A  man's  best  fortune  or  his  worst  is  his  wife. 
Every  ass  thinks  himself  worthy  to  stand  with 

the  King's  horses. 

Gold  goes  in  at  every  gate  except  that  of  heaven. 
_When  poverty  comes  in  at  the  door  love  jumps 

out  at  the  window. 

A  wise  man  hath  more  ballast  than  sail. 
Almsgiving  never  made  anyone  poor. 
One  pair  of  heels  is  sometimes  worth  two  pair  of 

hands. 
He  who  hath  an  ill  name  is  half  hanged. 


332  GOOSNARGH : 

If  the  best  man's  faults  were  written  on  his  fore- 
head it  would  make  him  pull  his  hat  over  his 
eyes. 

What  fools  say  doth  not  much  trouble  wise  men. 

Good  to  begin  well,  better  to  end  well. 

We  shall  lie  all  alike  in  our  graves. 

Giving  much  to  the  poor  doth  increase  a  man's 
store. 

Wit  once  bought  is  worth  twice  taught. 

The  charitable  man  gives  out  at  the  door,  and 
God  puts  in  at  the  window. 

Much  better  lose  a  jest  than  a  friend. 

Keep  your  shop  and  your  shop  will  keep  you. 

Mention  not  a  rope  in  the  house  of  one  whose 
father  was  hanged. 

Everyone  can  tame  a  shrew  but  he  who  has  her. 

He  who  gives  wisely  sells  to  advantage. 

Whatever  good  thou  doest  give  God  the  praise. 

There  are  a  great  many  asses  without  long  ears. 

The  best  throw  of  the  dice  is  to  throw  them 
away. 

Giving  is  good  fishing. 

He  who  is  an  ass  and  takes  himself  to  be  a  stag, 
when  he  comes  to  leap  the  ditch  finds  his  mis- 
take. 

A  man  is  valued  as  he  makes  himself  valuable. 

Spare  diet  and  no  trouble  keep  a  man  in  good 
health. 

He  who  doth  a  kindness  to  a  good  man  doth  a 
greater  to  himself. 

Keep  your  mouth  shut  and  your  eyes  open. 

Show  not  to  all  the  bottom  of  your  purse  or  of 
your  mind. 

Suppers  kill  more  than  the  greatest  doctor  ever 
cured. 


PAST  AND   PRESENT.  333 

He  who  plays  me  one  trick  shall  not  play  me  a 

second. 
To  do  good  make  no  delay,  for  life  and  time  slide 

fast  away. 
The  best  of  the  game  is  to  do  one's  business  and 

talk  little  of  it. 

The  devil  goes  shares  in  gaming. 
The  sickness  of  the  body  may  prove  the  health 

of  the  soul. 
He  that  would  be  master  of  his  own  must  not  be 

bound  to  another. 
Nature,  time  and  patience  are  the  three  great 

physicians. 

By  doing  nothing  men  learn  to  do  ill. 
One  eye  of  the  master  sees  more  than  two  eyes 

of  his  servant. 

True  love  and  honour  go  always  together. 
Speaking  without  thinking  is  shooting  without 

taking  aim. 
One  mild  word  quenches  more  heat  than  a  bucket 

of  water. 

To  forgive  injuries  is  a  noble  and  God-like  re- 
venge. 
When  you  are  all  agreed  upon  the  time  quoth 

the  curate,  I  will  make  it  rain. 
The  devil  turns  his  back  when  he  finds  the  door 

shut  against  him. 
Good   preachers   give    their   hearers    fruit,   not 

flowers. 
Reason  governs  the  wise  man  and  a  cudgel  a 

fool. 
Love,  knavery  and  necessity,  make   men  good 

orators. 
There   is   no   fence   against   what   comes    from 

heaven. 


334  GOOSNARGH  : 

A  soldier,  fire  and  water,  soon  make  room  for 

themselves. 
Begin  your  web  and  God  will  supply  you  with 

thread. 
A   wise  man   changes  his  mind   when   he   has 

reason  for  it. 
Tell  everybody  your  business  and  the  devil  will 

do  it  for  you. 

Six  feet  of  earth  make  all  men  of  one  size. 
To  preach  well  you  must  first  practice  what  you 

teach  others. 
The  first  step  a  man  takes  towards  being  good  is 

to  know  that  he  is  not  so  already. 
A  tree  is  known  by  its  fruit. 
A  rolling  stone  gathers  no  moss  (but  Sambo  said 

it  gathers  polish). 

If  Candlemas  day  be  clear  and  fair, 
The  half  of  the  winter's  to  come,  and  mair, 
If  Candlemas  day  be  mirk  and  foul, 
Half  of  the  winter  is  gane  at  yule. 

A  wise  head  makes  a  still  tongue. 
Truth  and  sweet  oil  always  come  to  the  top. 
Brawling  curs  never  want  sore  ears. 
Those  who  are  doing  nothing  are  doing  ill. 

I  It  is  not  the  hen  that  cackles  most  that  lays  the 
most  eggs. 
A  man  might  as  well  eat  the  devil  as  drink  the 

broth  he's  boiled  in. 
That  man  is  safest  who  always  serves  a  good 

conscience. 

|  Country  people  watch  over  one  another  (an  old 
\      author  says  "  a  bird  of  the  air  shall  carry  it."). 
There's  more  flies  caught  with  honey  than  alegar. 
They  are  not  all  thieves  that  dogs  bark  at. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  335 

Don't  stretch  your  arm  further  than  your  sleeve 
will  reach. 

There's  no  getting  white  meal  out  of  a  coal  sack. 

One  half  of  the  devil's  meal  runs  to  bran. 

Smooth  runs  the  water  where  the  brook  is  deep. 
/    It's  the  quiet  sow  that  eats  up  the  draff. 
\  As  the  sow  fills  the  draff  sours. 
•  You  cannot  make  a  silk  purse  out  of  a  sow's  ear. 
||  You  cannot  make  a  horn  out  of  a  pig's  tail. 

y   f>>»-'^  On  Saint  Valentine's  day 

Beans  should  be  in  the  clay. 

Honest  water  is  too  weak  to  be  a  sinner  (it  never 
left  anyone  in  the  mire). 

Whom  the  Gods  love  die  young. 

To  know  people,  have  dealings  with  them. 

To  know  ourselves  is  half  a  cure. 

Prayer  and  provender  hinder  no  man's  journey. 

He  that  follows  truth  too  near  the  heels  will  have 
dirt  kicked  in  his  face. 

You  may  take  a  horse  to  the  water  but  you  can- 
not make  him  drink. 

The  latch  is  good  to  hold  when  nobody  pulls 

the  string. 

f   March  comes  in  like  a  lion  and  goes  out  like  a 
J__      lamb. 
T    If  the  oak's  before  the  ash  then  you'll  only  get  a 

splash. 
I If- the  ash  precedes  the  oak  then  expect  a  soak. 

A  sour-faced  wife  fills  the  tavern. 

Content's  the  mother  of  good  digestion. 

Oaks  never  grow  in  hothouses. 

A  blazing  fire  and  a  smiling  wife 
Kill  temptation  and  misery  and  strife. 

|    Where  hard  work  kills  ten, 
Idleness  kills  a  hundred  men. 


336  GOOSNARGH  : 

Friends  and  photographs  never  flatter. 
Fortune  helps  those  that  help  themselves. 

When  Adam  delv'd  and  Eve  span, 
Where  was  then  the  gentleman  ? 
As  men  grew  learned  they  grew  wise, 
From  whence  gentility  did  arise. 

A  creaking  door  hangs  long  on  the  hinges. 

No  thank  you,  has  lost  many  a  good  butter  cake. 

T  He'll  go  through  the  wood  and  tey  the  crooked 
^^,     stick  at  last. 

Pendle  Hill  and  Pennygent  and  Little  Ingleborough, 
You'll  not  find  three  such  hills  seek  England  through. 

Zeal  that  has  not  good  fuel  soon  goes  out. 
A  small  boat  should  have  a  narrow  sail. 
Prayer    honours    Providence    and     Providence 

honours  prayer. 
Property  has  its  duties ;  blood  is  thicker  than 

water. 
j    There  is  no  good  horse  of  a  bad  colour. 

Whatsoever  is  less  than  truth  cannot  be  truth. 

As  the  twig  is  bent  the  tree  is  inclined. 

A  horse  that  carries  a  good  load  will  have  a 

moderate  speed. 
|   The   drunkard   is   always   dry ;  the   glutton   is 

never  satisfied. 
Consider  the  end,  believe  and  amend. 


Manchester  and  Thirl  mere  Water  Works  are 
planned  to  pass  through  this  township — a  gigan- 
tic undertaking — supposed  to  cost  several  millions. 

The  following  document  may  be  interesting  as 
showing  the  state  of  affairs  here  in  1796: — 
Money  Lade  out  on  Hyereing  Men  for  the  use  of 
his  Majesty's  Navy  for  the  Township  of  Goos- 
nargh. 


PAST  AND   PRESENT.  337 

£  S.     D. 

Deer.  2nd,  1796,  Meeting  Rob1.  Becon- 

sall  to  settle  betwixt  the  Townships  040 

Spent  at  Same  Time o  2     o 

Paid  for  Advertisements o  5     o 

Deer.  8th,  Takeing  Dick  Cottom  to  be 

Examined o  4     o 

My  Dinor  and  his  2s.    Spent  at  same 

Time  is o  3     o 

Paid  Do'tor  Pretchard  for  Examin- 
ing him o  i     o 

3yd5!  of  Black  Riband  for  a  Cockade 

at  6d.  p o  i     6 

1 3th,  Taking  Dick  to  be  Inroled o  4     o 

My  dinor  and  his  2s.     Spent  6d.     ...  o  2     6 
Paid  Docter  Tomlinson  for  Examin- 
ing Dick o  i     o 

Paid  the  regelating  offisors  Man  for 

Do o  i     o 

Given    to   a  Man   to   fetch    Docter 

Pretcherd o  i     o 

Paid  Dick  Cottom  Before  the  Justises  700 

Paid  to  County  Treasurer  as  p.  Rec1.  14  o    o 

Paid  to  Mr.  Startifant  for  the  fine  ...17  17     o 
Going  with  the   Money  to   County 

Treasurer o  4    o 

Paid  to  Richard  Parkinson  for  Meate 

for  2  Lads o  3     o 

for  Colecting  the  above  Money  .      ...  o  10     o 


/4°     4     o 

GOOSNARGH   SEVENTY   YEARS   AGO. 

70  years  ago  a  servant  man's  wage  was  £10  a 
year  and  a  servant  woman's  £7. 
v 


338  GOOSNARGH  : 

1 

70  years  ago  servant  men  had  to  mend  their  own 
stockings  and  to  find  yarn  for  the  same. 

70  years  ago  more  clogs  were  worn  than  shoes. 

70  years  ago  drunkenness  was  not  considered 
disgraceful. 

70  years  ago  rarely  did  a  funeral  take  place  when 
the  mourners  (?)  did  not  retire  to  a  public- 
house  as  soon  as  the  service  was  over. 

70  years  ago  it  was  rare  to  see  a  corpse  brought 
in  a  hearse  for  interment. 

70  years  ago  churchwardens  paid  for  birds'  heads 
and  eggs  out  of  the  church-rates. 

70  years  ago  (and  much  less)  corn-tithe  was 
taken  in  kind.  Also  see  article  small  tithes. 

70  years  ago  there  were  only  1 3  inmates  in  Goos- 
nargh  Hospital. 

70  years  ago  salt  was  4d.  per  lb.,  tea  8s.  per  lb., 
flour  6d.  lb.,  and  oat  meal  £6  a  load. 

70  years  ago  ministers  had  to  keep  school  to  eke 
out  a  living. 

70  years  ago  football,  spell  and  knor  and  marbles 
were  common  Sunday  games  by  adults. 

70  years  ago  public-houses  were  kept  open  all 
hours  on  week-days  and  closed  only  during 
Church  service  on  Sundays. 

70  years  ago  a  householder  could  not  have  more 
than  eight  windows  in  his  house  (including  the 
dairy  window)  without  being  subject  to  win- 
dow duty. 

70  years  ago  the  ague  ("shaking")  was  a  com- 
mon sickness. 

70  years  ago  bear-baiting,  bull-baiting  and  cock- 
fighting  were  patronised  by  all  classes. 

70  years  ago  farmers  rarely  kept  more  than  one 
sheep  on  their  farms. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  339 

70  years  ago  shorthorned  cows  had  not  been  in- 
troduced. 

70  years  ago  the  corn-tithe  was  let  for  about 
^1,000  per  annum. 

70  years  ago  the  churchwardens  paid  (out  of 
church-rates)  for  ale  and  powder  for  the  in- 
habitants to  celebrate  gunpowder  plot. 

70  years  ago  the  Church  was  not  decorated  with 
crosses. 

70  year  ago  Whitechapel  School  was  free  and 
Goosnargh  School  all  but  the  same. 

70  years  ago  children  at  school  banquets  were 
treated  with  hot  ale  and  rum. 

70  years  ago  "Cock-Thursday"  was  a  great  day,  \  '' 
when  cocks  and  hens  were  thrown  for  by  dice 
by  school  children  of  both  sexes,  and  cocks  I 
run  for  by  the  boys,  who  had  to  catch  them 
with  their  hands  tied  on  their  backs.  ( 

70  years  ago  the  cuckstool,  penance  sheet  and 
stocks  were  just  dying  out. 

70  years  ago  the  salaries  of  the  ministers  of 
Goosnargh  and  Whitechapel  did  not  together 
amount  to  ^"200  a  year. 

70  years  ago  Inglewhite  fair  was  held  on  a  Sun- 
day. 

70  years  ago  cotton  hand-loom  weaving  was  a 
common  and  flourishing  business. 

70  years  ago  the  hand-spinning  woollen  and 
linen  wheels  were  in  common  use. 

70  years  ago  the  mowing  and  reaping  machines 
were  unknown  here. 

70  years  ago  tile- draining  had  not  superceded 
sod-draining. 

70  years  ago  bone-manure  had  only  just  come 
into  use. 
v  2 


34O  GOOSNARGH : 

70  years  ago  there  was  no  Sunday  School  (are  we 
coming  to  that  again). 

70  years  ago  a  farmer's  wife  thought  herself  well- 
attired  when  she  wore  a  printed  bedgown  and 
a  linsey  woolsey  petticoat.  (Oh !  for  some  of 
the  old  careful  primitive  customs  back  again). 

70  years  ago  love-sick  swains  and  sighing  dam- 
sels could  walk  from  the  north  side  of  Beaton 
Fell  to  Goosnargh  Church  to  get  married. 

70  years  ago  there  was  a  workouse  at  Inglewhite, 
and  the  parishioners  conducted  their  own  parish 
business  in  open  vestry. 

70  years  ago  there  was  a  bone  mill  a  little  to  the 
north  of  Inglewhite,  and  though  small,  did  a 
considerable  business. 

70  years  ago  a  Goosnargh  man  (lately  deceased) 
was  fined  £100  for  shooting  a  hare. 

70  years  ago  three-year-old  calving  heifers  were 
sold  for  £6  and  £*]  each. 

70  years  ago  farmer's  wives  could  walk  from 
Goosnargh  to  Preston  and  back  in  one  day. 

70  years  ago  (and  less)  there  were  boys  in  the 
schools  here  learning  mensuration,  land  sur- 
veying, algebra,  navigation  and  euclid. 

70  years  ago  (and  less)  parish  clerks  were  hired 
to  say  Amen  for  the  people. 


CATTLE   PLAGUE. 

1869,  Goosnargh  was  visited  with  the  cattle 
plague,  "rinderpest ;"  mine  I  understand  was  the 
last  case  in  England.  I  then  had  ten  head  of 
horned  cattle ;  some  were  killed  and  dressed  for 
meat  and  the  rest  were  buried. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT.  34! 

ST.   ANN'S   WELL. 

On  Longley  Hall  Estate  there  is  a  spring  of 
water  known  as  St.  Ann's  Well,  which  is  said  to 
have  had  in  former  times  great  healing  properties. 
The  tradition  is  that  the  benefits  were  not 
derived  by  drinking  the  water  but  by  immersion 
in  it.  The  appearance  of  the  well  at  the  present 
time  may  have  led  to  this  supposition,  as  it  is 
built  in  the  form  of  a  horse-shoe  (qft.  by  yft.  6in.) 
and  has  steps  down  to  the  bottom  of  the  water 
which  stands  at  about  three  feet  deep.  It  is  no 
doubt  the  spring  alluded  to  by  Leigh,  who  in  his 
"  Natural  History  of  Lancashire  and  the  Peak  of 
Derbyshire"  (written  in  1700),  referring  to 
mineral  waters  "  springing  out  of  bass  and  sul- 
phureous only,"  says:  "  of  these  the  most  noted 
is  one  near  a  place  called  Inglewhite ;  this 
springs  out  of  black  bass,  which  by  calcina- 
tion I  found  to  contain  sulphur.  The  water  has 
a  sulphureous  smell  as  strong  as  that  near  Harro- 
gate  in  Yorkshire,  but  contains  little  or  no  salt, 
which  is  the  reason  that  it  is  not  purgative  like 
that." 

Dr.  Shott  (whose  work  on  mineral  waters  was 
printed  in  1740)  also  notices  Inglewhite  spa: 
u  It  is  the  product  of  shale  and  biazie,  and  is  a 
strong  sulphur  and  chalybeate  water,  but  purges 
not  except  drunk  with  salts." 

It  would  appear  from  these  two  extracts  that 
the  invalids  were  to  drink  of  the  water  and  not 
to  immerse  themselves  in  it.  Near  the  bottom 
of  the  well  on  a  stone  (20  inches  by  17  inches  is 
cut  in  letters  3^  inches  high — 


342 


GOOSNARGH  : 


FONS 


Mem.  GOOSNARGH   CHRISTMAS   DOLE,    1885. 

£       S.  D. 

Loudscale's 28     o  o 

Waring's        9     9  4 

Colborne's     3  10  6 

Lund's  (Dun  Cow  Rib)       o     5  o 

Waring's  (paid  off  Smithy  House)    ...     o     8  o 
Parkinson's              do.                          ...036 


16     4 


Distributed  to  44  recipients  in  sums  varying 
from    5.  to        . 


PAST  AND   PRESENT. 


343 


O'-'OC^OOOOOVOO 
vo  N  O  O  O  O  O  vnoo  to  ro 
•^-•»j-NOO>-||-1OOO>-i 


344          GOOSNARGH  : 

CRANBERRY,  &C. 

Cranberry  and  whinberry  may  both  be  fonnd 
growing  in  the  higher  district  of  the  township — 
that  says  moorish 

TIMBER. 

Goosnargh  is  too  much  above  the  level  of  the 
Irish  Sea  to  encourage  the  growth  of  timber,  yet 
occasionally  I  meet  with  a  stately  tree,  and  there 
is  one  (a  sycamore)  standing  and  growing  on  an 
estate  near  to  Whitechapel  Church,  the  property 
of  Townley  Rigby  Knowles  Esq.,  which  would 
grace  Kensington  Park  had  they  it  there.  It  is 
about  20  yards  high ;  its  branches  from  tip  to 
tip  measure  29  yards  ;  and  the  trunk  7  feet  from 
the  ground  girths  14  feet  7  inches. 


A   GOOD   CUSTOM. 

A  good  custom  prevails  here  and  is  peculiar 
to  this  district.  When  it  is  known  that  a  man 
thrashes  his  wife,  the  young  men  scatter  chaff 
about  his  dwelling  and  it  appears  that  one  dose 
cures;  for  it  has  not  been  known  to  require 
repeating. 

PAUPERISM. 

I  deem  it  worthy  of  remark  that  Goosnargh  is 
one  of  the  largest  townships  in  Lancashire,  and 
yet  there  is  not  one  Goosnargh  pauper  in  it  (1885)  ; 
but  the  poor  have  not  ceased  out  of  the  land. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  345 

CORN   MILLS. 

Formerly  we  had  four  corn  mills  by  water- 
power,  namely,  Higher  Brock  Mill,  Lower  Brock 
Mill,  Goosnargh  Mill  and  Bulsnape  Mill,  now 
reduced  to  two,  Lower  Brock  Mill  and  Goosnargh 
Mill. 

GOOSNARGH   CAKES. 

Goosnargh  has  almost  a  world-wide  fame  for 
making  penny  cakes  of  a  peculiar  pastry,  and 
great  as  the  depression  of  trade  at  present  is, 
about  4,000  dozens  are  disposed  of  annually 
about  Whitsuntide.  (^"200). 

LONGEVITY,  &C. 

The  tombstones  and  parish  registers  bear  re- 
cord that  many  of  the  inhabitants  have  attained 
great  length  of  years.  The  oldest  man  in  the 
township  is  over  90  years  and  the  oldest 
woman  very  near  upon  it.  The  united  ages  of 
four  of  the  living  inhabitant  amount  to  356 
years.  There  is  one  old  lady  aged  79  years 
living  at  the  house  where  she  first  saw  the  light 
of  day,  never  having  changed  her  residence  ;  and 
there  are  many  farms  that  have  descended  from 
father  to  son,  and  in  some  instances  from  father 
to  son  and  to  son's  son;  that  speaks  well  for  both 
owner  and  occupier. 

ANECDOTES. 

Many  are  the  good  lively  anecdotes  that  are 
handed  about  from  party  to  party  here  which 


346  GOOSNARGH  : 

keep  fresh  and  green  from  one  generation  to 
another,  but  to  attempt  a  list  thereof  would  be 
to  swell  this  work  far  beyond  the  limits  intended. 
However  as  a  specimen  I  will  just  note  down  one 
that  originated  at  a  meeting  at  which  1  was 
present : — 

Some  50  years  ago  an  Act  was  passed  by 
which  people  who  used  weights  and  measures 
were  subjected  to  have  them  examined  by 
officials  appointed  for  that  purpose.  At  the 
period  above-named  I  was  one  of  a  company  that 
farmed  Goosnargh  Mill,  and  when  the  inspector 
came  round  he  found  two  561b.  weights  at  the 
mill  deficient,  and  nearly  all  the  weights  and 
measures  in  this  district  were  in  the  same  con- 
dition. Amongst  others  two  small  weights  were 
taken  out  of  an  old  man's  smithy  near  to  Stock's 
House,  Whittingham,  of  the  name  of  Banks,  a 
very  simple,  rustic-looking  man  who  wore  his 
white  hair  hanging  on  to  his  shoulders.  All 
who  were  suspected  of  having  defective  weights 
and  measures  for  a  considerable  distance  round 
Eccleston  were  summoned  to  attend  and  appear 
before  Messrs.  Cunliffe  and  Wilson  France,  two 
of  the  County  magistrates,  at  Cart-ford  Inn. 
The  house  was  thronged,  and  we  had  long  to 
wait  before  we  could  get  our  turns  ;  however, 
eventually  we  all  got  brought  "before  our  betters." 
When  Banks's  turn  came  on,  his  two  small 
weights  were  examined,  and  they,  like  most 
others  there,  were  found  deficient,  and  the  magis- 
trates fined  him  five  shillings,  and  he  put  down 
two  half-crowns  on  the  table  before  them ; 
and  as  he  stood  there  with  his  hat  under  his 
arm,  looking  about  as  simple  as  a  half-penny 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  347 

worth  of  eggs,  he  said — ((  Gentlemen,  you  could 
not  be  so  good  as  to  give  me  one  of  them  back, 
could  you  ?  for  I  have  not  a  penny  to  carry  me 
home."  The  magistrates  consulted  together, 
and  (what  do  you  think)  they  gave  him  them 
both  back.  He  still  stood  there,  and  then  said — 
"  Gentlemen,  you  could  not  be  so  good  as  to  give 
me  another,  could  you  ? "  That  opened  the 
magistrates  eyes,  and  Mr.  Wilson  France  said — 
take  the  man  away,  he  is  delirious ;  and  as  he 
(Banks)  was  turning  to  leave,  one  of  the  magis- 
trates said — here,  you  may  take  your  weights ; 
when  he  replied — "  nay,  I'll  have  none  of  your 
light  weights."  And  as  three  or  four  of  us  were 
returning  from  Cart-ford  to  Eccleston  by  a  field 
path,  he  stopped  short  and  said — "  yon  men  are 
up  to  their  business ;  they  could  see  in  a  minute 
that  I  was  not  reet ;  '  but  reeter,'  I  fancy,  than 
many  that  was  there  that  day." 

Moral :  Judge  not  according  to  appearance  ! 

Many  other  lively  anecdotes  might  be  told  of 
the  same  individual,  who  was  a  noted  wit,  though 
taken  by  the  magistrates  to  be  daft.  Like  many 
other  "  stars/'  he  had  the  failing  of  getting  on 
the  spree,  and  after  one  of  his  too  common  drink- 
ing bouts,  on  going  home  his  wife  would  not 
speak ;  and  he  being  aware  that  Dr.  Eccles  (father 
of  the  present  Dr.  Eccles),  was  in  the  neighbour- 
hood, ran  at  the  top  of  his  speed,  and  putting 
on  one  of  his  serious  looks  told  the  doctor  that 
his  wife  was  taken  speechless,  and  requested  him 
to  visit  her  immediately.  On  hearing  this  the 
doctor  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  off  post  haste 
to  the  house  of  the  old  blacksmith,  and  (as  will 
be  guessed)  he  soon  set  Mrs.  Banks's  tongue 


348  GOOSNARGH  : 

a-wagging.  When  Banks  heard  of  the  speedy 
recovery  of  his  "  better  half,"  he  exclaimed—  Dr. 
Eccles  is  a  "  clever  fellow  ;  "  he  has  made  a  rare 
cure  of  my  wife. 

The  doctor  having  left  his  patient  convalescent, 
rode  back  to  the  Stocks  House  Inn,  and  chalked 
Banks  up  5/-  in  place  of  booking  his  fee. 

ESSAY   ON   GOOSNARGH    FARMING. 

It  must  be  admitted  that  the  farming  of  Goos- 
nargh  is  not  first  rate,  and  much  behind  some  of 
its  neighbouring  townships,  yet  the  state  of 
agriculture  is  on  the  advance,  and  many  great 
and  judicious  improvements  have  been  made 
during  the  last  fifty  years.  Draining  has  been 
carried  out  on  an  extensive  scale  and  in  a  sys- 
tematic manner,  which  in  this  and  every  other 
district  where  there  is  a  clayey  subsoil,  is  the 
basis  of  all  good  husbandry.  A  great  quantity 
of  land  which  was  formerly  under  the  plough 
has  been  laid  down,  and  artificial  grasses  have 
been  much  more  extensively  used  than  formerly, 
and  to  a  very  great  advantage  over  the  plan  of 
treating  the  old  ploughed  land,  which  was  gener- 
ally to  plough  it  till  it  would,  grow  little  besides 
weeds,  and  then  to  leave  it  to  take  its  luck. 
Very  little  old  sward  is  now  broken  up,  and 
when  the  plough  is  put  in  it  has  a  much  shorter 
run  on  the  same  lands  than  formerly,  experience 
(or  the  corn  laws)  having  at  length  taught  the 
farmer  that  this  is  not  naturally  a  corn  growing 
district,  and  that  over  much  ploughing  (the 
expenses  being  so  heavy,  and  the  price  of  grain 
so  low),  tends  to  impoverish  either  the  farm  or 


PAST    AND   PRESENT.  349 

the  farmer,  or  both.    Sixty  years  ago  there  was 
a  great  quantity  of  tillage  land  in  Goosnargh. 

Within  the  memory  of  the  writer  of  this,  the 
corn  tithes  of  Goosnargh  were  let  for  about  ^900 
a  year,  and  at  present  less  than  ^"100  would  buy 
up  all  the  corn  grown  in  the  township.  Wily, 
far-seeing  people  got  the  Tithe  Commutation 
Act  passed. 

MORALS   AND   ABILITY    OF   THE    FARMERS. 

The  farmers  as  a  body  are  a  people  of  sober, 
iudustrious  and  careful  habits,  perhaps  rather 
low  in  pocket  but  possessing  a  fair  practical 
knowledge  of  their  businesss ;  their  systems  being 
tolerably  well  adapted  to  the  respective  natures 
of  the  soil  (as  it  is)  and  the  climate.  Farmers 
coming  into  Goosnargh  from  a  distance  seldom 
do  so  well  as  the  natives  of  the  soil. 

LAND,    HOW    HELD   AND   LET. 

The  whole  of  the  land  here  is  held  on  freehold 
tenure.  Leasing  of  farms  for  life  or  lives  was 
formerly  very  common,  but  that  mode  of  letting 
is  entirely  done  away  with;  some  of  the  farms 
are  let  from  year  to  year,  but  the  most  usual 
term  is  five  or  seven  years.  Many  of  the  land- 
lords seem  inclined  to  let  their  farms  for  greater 
periods  but  few  of  the  tenants  are  disposed  to 
bind  themselves  for  longer  terms.  Several  of 
the  farms  are  held  by  verbal  contracts  only,  but 
memorandums  on  unstamped  paper  are  the  rule, 
and  stamped  contracts  the  exception. 

The  farm  buildings  and  "outlet  field"  are 
mostly  let  from  ist  May  to  ist  May,  and  the 


350  GOOSNARGH  : 

remainder  of  the  land  from  Candlemas  (February 
2nd)  to  Candlemas-  This  is  a  very  inconvenient 
mode  of  letting,  both  land  and  buildings  should 
be  let  from  the  same  time,  say  February  2nd,  but 
old  customs  however  absurd  are  very  difficult  to 
change. 

SOIL. 

The  soil  of  the  northern  part  of  Goosnargh, 
especially  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Beaton  fell, 
is  of  a  black  moorish  kind,  but  the  soil  of  the 
lower  division  is  much  stronger  than  the  higher, 
being  for  the  most  part  clayey  loam,  quite  equal 
if  not  superior  to  that  of  the  neighbouring  town- 
ships. 

SUB-SOIL. 

The  sub-soil  of  the  southern  division  of  the 
township  is  with  few  exceptions  all  upon  clay, 
in  the  northern  district  is  a  mixture  of  clay, 
gravel,  sand  and  sandstone.  Marl  is  found  in 
greater  or  less  quantities  all  over  the  township, 
at  a  depth  varying  from  about  three  to  four  feet, 
but  is  much  more  common  in  the  lower  than 
the  higher  division. 

The  Hamlet  of  Newsham  as  regards  soil  and 
state  of  cultivation  is  much  the  same  as  the  lower 
division  of  Goosnargh. 

CLIMATE. 

The  climate  is  humid,*  but  draining  has  done 

*  COLD  GOOSNARGH.— This  district  has  long  been  designated  "  Cold 
Goosnargh,"  and  it  must  be  admitted  that  it  would  compare  badly  both 
as  to  climate  and  soil  with  some  other  parts  of  North  Lancashire,  and 
yet  most  singular  to  say,  at  the  Royal  Manchester,  Liverpool  and  North 
Lancashire  Agricultural  Society  held  in  1887,  all  the  prizes  for  cheese 
were  awarded  to  Goosnargh  farmers,  namelv  first  prize  to  William  Knowles 
of  Longley  Hall,  and  to  his  dairymaid  Miss  Margaret  Knowles,  aged  15 
years,  a  silver  medal ;  second  prize  to  James  Cowpe  of  Fir  Trees  ;  and 
third  prize  to  Mrs.  Cowell  of  Eaves  Green. 


PAST    AND   PRESENT.  351 

much  to  improve  it ;  the  ague  once  very  common 
is  now  scarcely  known,  and  "Will  with  the 
Wisp"  and  "Jack  with  the  Lantern"  have  made 
their  exit ;  and  the  air  being  unimpregnated  by 
the  smoke  and  effluvia  of  manufactures  is  pure 
and  salubrious.  "The  higher  end,"  as  its  name 
denotes,  is  more  elevated  than  the  lower,  and 
spring  is  later  by  three  weeks  in  the  extreme 
north  than  in  the  southern  district. 

RAIN. 

A. great  quantity  of  rain  falls  here,  especially 
to  the  north  of  Beaton  fell,  the  high  hills  bor- 
dering upon  the  north  of  the  township  arrest  the 
clouds  and  attract  their  contents,  which  are 
wafted  by  the  oft  prevailing  western  winds  from 
the  Atlantic  Ocean,  consequently  rain  and  mists 
are  much  more  common  in  the  higher  than  in 
the  lower  division  of  the  township. 

DRAINING. 

Four  sorts  of  draining  are  in  vogue  in  this 
township,  namely  sod,  stone,  turf  and  tile  ;  the 
former  may  be  called  the  ancient  and  the  two 
latter  the  modern  methods.  All  four  have  had 
their  peculiar  recommendations,  and  each  have 
yet  their  respective  advocates,  but  pipe  tile  drain- 
ing is  the  order  of  the  day.  And  without  entering 
into  detail  on  the  merits  of  each  particular  sys- 
tem, I  beg  to  insert  a  few  remarks  on  the  subject 
of  draining  by  Mr.  Bullock  Webster  of  Scotland, 
they  are  mtiltum  in  parvo  (much  in  little). 

1.  No  general  rule  can  be  laid  down. 

2.  Any  one  system  for  all  soils  is  an  absurdity. 


352  GOOSNARGH: 

3.  Depth  and  distance  of  drains  must  depend 
on  the  nature  of  the  soil  and  sub-soil. 

4.  That  grass  land  can  be  over  drained. 

5.  The  direction   the   drains   should   be   laid 
must  be  governed  by  the  strata  to  be  cut  through, 
the  fall,  and  other  local  circumstances  ;  the  rule 
of  going  always  with  the  fall  is  decidedly  wrong. 

6.  There  are  instances  (in  the  new  red  sand 
stone)  where  drains  will  act  perfectly  at  40  yards 
apart,  and  there  are  strong  clay  sub-soils  that 
require  drains  every  six  or  eight  yards. 

7.  On  the  strong  clay  sub-soils  (not  surcharged 
with  under  water)  drains  30  to  36  inches  deep  at 
moderate  intervals  are  much  more  effective  than 
deep  drains  at  wide  intervals,  and  on  these  soils 
the  clay  should  not  be  filled  in  over  the  tiles  or 
pipes. 

8.  It  often  happens  that  drains  four  feet  deep 
and  40  feet  apart  are  placed  over  a  field,  when 
one  drain  properly  put  in  would  cover  the  whole. 

To  see  what  draining  is  capable  of  doing  we 
need  not  travel  to  Chat  or  Nateby  mosses  but 
only  take  a  peep  at  Goosnargh  moor,  the  pro- 
perty of  Mr.  Benn. 

Many  old  farmers  are  of  an  opinion  that  an 
odd  old  rushy  field  on  a  dry  summer,  snowy 
winter  or  backward  spring  is  the  most  valuable 
part  of  the  pasture,  and  that  a  great  error  has 
been  committed  here  in  draining  meadows  too 
hard.  Perhaps  all  extremes  betray  us. 

Cropping. — Random  cropping  is  the  rule,  sys- 
tematic the  exception.  The  following  rotation 
has  often  been  recommended,  but  is  seldom 
acted  upon  : — 


PAST  AND   PRESENT.  353 

1.  Oats.  3.  Green  crop. 

2.  Oats.  4.  Oats  and  seeds  for  hay. 

5.  Seeds  for  hay  or  pasture. 

RENTAL. 

The  rental  of  the  farms  is  about  £2  53.  per 
customary  acre,  a  high  figure  considering  the 
soil,  climate,  state  of  cultivation,  and  the  present 
market  prices.  The  land  is  divided  into  a  great 
number  of  petty  holdings,  and  many  of  the 
owners  being  persons  of  rather  slender  means, 
little  able  if  disposed  to  assist  their  tenants  in 
making  improvements,  and  too  apt  to  take  the 
highest  bidders,  hence  agriculture  cannot  be 
expected  to  make  such  rapid  strides  here  as  in 
some  of  the  neighbouring  localities  where  the 
lords  of  the  soil  have  the  power  and  inclination 
to  put  on  high  pressure  power. 

FENCES   AND   ENCLOSURES. 

The  fences  are  various,  irregular  and  deficient. 
Here  both  owner  and  occupier  may  find  a  long 
and  a  strong  job — the  one  in  straightening  and 
the  other  in  trimming.  The  enclosures  are 
generally  small,  and  on  that  ground  are  often 
condemned,  but  notwithstanding  the  received 
notion  .to  the  contrary,  I  am  of  a  decided  opinion 
that  our  forefathers  have  not  been  so  foolish  in 
this  respect  as  they  are  sometimes  represented 
to  have  been,  and  that  in  the  absence  of  planta- 
tions, small  enclosures  (of  pasture  ground  at 
w 


354  GOOSNARGH  : 

least)  with  well  trimmed  high  thick  hedges  in 
this  plain  and  cold  climate  are  of  great  and 
essential  service,  and  those  farmers  who  have 
been  so  foolish  as  to  level  and  lop  their  fences 
may  thank  their  more  wise  neighbours  for  keep- 
ing up  their  barriers  to  ward  off  the  "north- 
western," otherwise  they  would  have  to  reap 
largely  of  their  own  folly. 

TIMBER. 

There  is  but  very  little  woodland  in  this  town- 
ship as  before  noticed,  but  considerable  hedgerow 
timber.  Nearly  all  descriptions  of  timber  grow 
well  in  the  lower  division  of  the  township,  and  a 
few  years  ago  there  were  some  fine  specimens  of 
the  old  English  oak  on  the  Fieldfoot  estates,  the 
property  of  Mr.  Robert  Parkinson.  In  the  higher 
division  the  trees  are  generally  stunted,  and  yet 
the  largest  tree,  as  before  stated,  we  have  is  in 
that  part  of  the  township,  it  measures  at  seven 
feet  from  the  ground,  fourteen  feet  seven  inches 
in  circumference  and  its  branches  cover  an  area 
of .  one  thousand  square  yards,  and  is  twenty 
yards  high.  It  is  a  sycamore,  and  the  property 
of  Townley  Rigby  Knowles,  Esq.,  and  stands 
upon  an  estate  near  to  the  Church  of  White- 
chapel. 

The  saline  particles  which  are  wafted  by  the 
western  breezes  from  the  Atlantic  Ocean  and 
the  Irish  Channel  have  a  pernicious  effect  upon 
the  hedgerow  timber,  the  oak  especially,  in  plain 
situations.  Less  hedgerow  timber  and  more 
plantations  would  be  a  considerable  improvement 
to  this  district. 


PAST   AND  PRESENT.  355 

MARLING. 

Marling  was  practiced  by  the  ancient  Britons, 
and  numerous  pits  we  have  here  bear  unmistak- 
able evidence  that  marling  has  formerly  been  very 
common,  and  where  marl  of  a  free  loamy  nature 
can  be  had,  and  used  for  tillage  purposes  on 
mossy  and  other  deep  free  soils  it  will  produce  a 
good  yield  of  grain  ;  but  experience  shows  that 
when  its  salinous  and  other  fertilizing  qualities 
are  exhausted  and  the  land  turned  to  permanent 
pasture  the  clayey  substance  remains,  and  has  a 
tendency  to  retain  the  wet  too  long  in  the  land, 
and  in  consequence  proves  injurious  to  those 
soils  that  lie  upon  a  heavy  clay ;  and  hence  a 
marling  is  now  very  rare,  and  my  marlpit  stand- 
ard is  wormeaten  for  want  of  use. 

Mr.  George  Beesley,  in  his  able  report  of  the 
state  of  agriculture  in  Lancashire,  has  some  very 
sensible  remarks  on  the  subject  of  marling. 

MANURES. 

Various  manures  are  in  use,  the  chief  are  bones, 
guano,  farmyard  dung,  lime,  various  composts 
and  liquid  manure.  Liquid  manure  has  of  late 
been  much  more  appreciated  than  formerly,  and 
tanks  are  rising  up,  or  rather,  I  should  say, 
sinking  down  in  all  directions.  This  is  the 
richest  mine  that  has  yet  been  discovered  in 
Goosnargh,  and  strange  to  say,  it  has  been  the 
most  neglected.  What  might  be  support  to  the 
farmer,  often  through  being  allowed  to  remain  in 
stagnant  pools  around  his  dwelling  and  impreg- 
nate the  air  he  breathes,  becomes  his  death. 
w  2 


356  GOOSNARGH  : 

Bone  manure  has  been  used  on  a  somewhat 
extensive  scale,  and  where  it  has  been  applied  it 
has  answered  beyond  the  most  sanguine  expect- 
ations, and  for  grass  lands  it  is  just  attaining  its 
proper  rank,  the  safest  to  answer,  and  the  fore- 
most and  cheapest  of  all  other  tilth,  but  not 
much  of  a  "year  to  year"  tenants'  article. 
Irrigation  never  fails,  whatever  be  the  nature  or 
the  source  of  the  liquid.  Hitherto  this  part  of 
husbandry  has  been  much  neglected. 

FRUIT  TREES. 

Orchards  have  increased  very  much  of  late, 
and  are  now  rather  extensive.  The  high  part  of 
the  township  is  not  well  adapted  for  the  rearing 
of  fruit  trees  (damsons  excepted),  but  in  the 
lower  division,  in  sheltered  situations,  and  on 
deep  dry  soils,  they  are  cultivated  to  great  advan 
tage.  The  damson  is  the  most  valuable  stone 
fruit  produced  here,  and  the  damson  tree  often 
yields  much  better  in  the  higher  than  the  lower 
district ;  the  trees  bloom  later,  and  therefore  are 
not  so  apt  to  be  blighted  by  frosts.  And  with 
regard  to  apples  the  Scotch  Bridget,  Old  Red 
Streak,  New  Town  Pippin,  China  Virgin  (Proc- 
ter's), and  Wright's  Seedlings  are  the  general 
favourites.  Pear  trees  answer  well,  and  grow  to 
an  extraordinary  size. 

SERVANTS   AND   WAGES. 

Servants  are  generally  hired  by  the  year, 
which  commences  at  Candlemas  (February  2nd.) 
A  man's  wages  are  about  £20  a  year  and  rations. 
A  woman's  ditto,  £16  ditto. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  357 

FARM    BUILDINGS. 

The  farm  buildings  are  principally  of  the  stone 
procured  from  Longridge  quarries,  various  in 
shape  and  contrivance,  and  generally  defective  in 
size  and  convenience,  and  most  especially  so  with 
regard  to  midden  steads  ;  this  defect  is  a  serious 
loss  to  the  farmer,  especially  in  very  rainy  seasons. 
Perhaps  the  most  singular  circumstance  relating 
to  the  History  of  Goosnargh  is  (as  before  stated) 
that  one  of  the  oldest  barns,  if  not  quite  the 
oldest,  in  the  township,  bids  fair  to  outlast  the 
newest  and  best  built  homestead  in  this  country. 
I  allude  to  the  one  on  Whinney  Clough  estate, 
the  property  of  Mr.  William  Philip  Park  of 
Preston. 

HORSES. 

A  considerable  number  of  horses  are  bred  here,  / 
a  few  of  which  are  of  superior  quality,  and  fetch 
very  high  prices.  A  breeding  mare  (next  to  a 
good  wife)  is  the  most  valuable  article  about  a 
farmer's  house  ;  but  the  greatest  part  of  the 
horses  are  of  a  dwarfish  size  and  mongrel  breed, 
and  the  farmers  in  Goosnargh  pride  less  in  their 
teams  than  those  of  the  neighbouring  townships; 
this  does  not  bespeak  a  money  making  people. 
Farming  business  is  dull  in  all  departments,  with 
the  exception  of  breeding  good  horses. 

cows. 

From  sixty  to  seventy  years  ago  very  few 
besides  the  "  long "  horned  breed  of  cows  was 


358  GOOSNARGH  : 

kept  here,  and  now  they  are  the  most  uncommon 
of  all  others.  But  some  how  or  other  when  in 
my  rambles  I  happen  to  meet  with  one  or  two  of 
those  natives,  with  their  long  thick  jackets, 
wide  spreading  or  circling  antlers,  I  can  hardly 
suppress  the  thought  that  the  change  has  been 
greater  than  the  improvement,  that  cattle  for 
permanent  stock  can  be  too  fine  bred  for  this 
high  district,  and  that  ultimately  the  farrier 
(cow  doctor)  will  be  the  greatest  gainer.  How- 
ever, the  finest  breeds  of  young  stock  grow  well 
in  most  parts  of  the  township,  and  for  selling  off 
at  one,  two  or  three  years  old,  perhaps  make  the 
best  returns ;  but  for  milking  stock,  a  cross 
between  the  short  horns  and  the  Scotch  or  Welsh 
is  much  preferred,  and  one  not  over  tidy  in  shape 
sometimes  tells  a  good  tale  in  the  milking  pail ; 
(perhaps  I  am  touching  a  sore  place.) 

SHEEP. 

A  good  number  of  sheep  are  kept  in  this  dis- 
trict, but  with  the  exception  of  Beaton  fell,  and 
a  few  other  farms  in  Goosnargh,  is  not  well 
calculated  for  sheep  farming;  for,  as  before 
observed,  the  climate  is  humid  and  the  land 
generally  too  wet,  both  being  against  sheep 
farming ;  and  besides  this  most  of  the  farms  are 
too  small  to  be  conveniently  divided  into  sheep 
and  cow  pastures,  and  when  sheep  are  suffered 
to  graze  with  the  milking  stock,  "  they  dine  at 
the  head  of  the  table,"  as  the  old  farmers  say, 
and  manage  to  pick  out  the  choice  herbs,  and  in 
consequence  considerably  diminish  the  yield  of 
the  cows. 


PAST  AND   PRESENT.  359 

SEED  TIME   AND   HARVEST. 

Wheat  is  generally  sown  (seldom  otherwise 
than  on  fallow),  at  the  latter  end  of  September 
or  the  beginning  of  October,  and  reaped  in 
August  or  September.  The  last  week  in  March 
or  the  first  week  in  April  is  accounted  the  most 
proper  time  for  the  sowing  of  oats,  and  they  are 
generally  ready  for  the  sickle  in  the  month  of 
September.  The  yield  of  wheat  is  about  ten 
windles  per  acre,  customary  measuie,  and  that  of 
oats  six  loads  of  meal. 

POTATOES. 

Potatoes  are  planted  in  the  months  of  March, 
April  and  May,  and  on  light  and  favourable  soils 
yield  about  I2olbs.  per  "fall"  of  49  square  yards, 
but  the  murrain  or  rot  prevails  so  extensively 
that  not  uncommonly  three-fourths  of  the  year's 
crop  is  destroyed  thereby.  Those  planted  in 
light,  dry  or  mossy  soils  have  formerly  proved 
much  sounder  than  those  on  heavy  wet  land, 
but  the  destroyer  now  makes  few  exceptions,  and 
doubts  begin  to  be  entertained  that  ere  long  we 
shall  be  unable  to  grow  this  useful  vegetable 
at  all. 

HAY   HARVEST. 

The  hay  harvest  is  a  busy  and  animating  scene, 
a  critical  and  about  the  most  important  part  of 
the  farming  business,  but  a  business  which  all 
can  manage,  and  of  course  a  subject  on  which 
few  will  stoop  to  be  instructed,  nevertheless  I 
will  venture  a  few  remarks  thereon. 


360  GOOSNARGH  : 

The  artificial  grasses  are  generally  cut  in  June, 
which  after  (very  properly)  lying  in  the  swath 
two  or  three  fine  days  are  "  rickle-cocked,"  and 
afterwards  well  housed  without  much  difficulty. 

The  month  of  July,  the  very  period  in  which 
the  most  rain  falls,  is  reckoned  the  most  suitable 
time  for  the  hay  harvest  of  the  natural  grasses ; 
and  the  lower  the  grass  is  cut  (provided  the  land 
be  not  push-plowed)  the  better,  for  the  aftermath 
always  grows  the  best  where  the  grass  is  cut  the 
lowest,  and  cattle  never  like  to  graze  lower  than 
the  scythe  has  gone,  and  besides  this,  high  and 
rough  mowing  has  a  tendency  to  make  future 
crops  of  hay  grass  grow  long,  coarse  and  thin. 
The  notion  which  commonly  prevails  of  low 
mowing  making  poor  meadows  is  a  fallacy. 
Thirty-five  years  ago  the  mowing  machine  was 
not  known  here,  arid  now  the  hand  scythe  is  all 
but  obsolete. 

As  to  haymaking  in  wet  and  unsettled  weather, 
I  would  say  stop  the  scythes,  don't  dabble  too 
much  in  the  mown  grass,  exercise  a  little 
patience,  and  wait  the  return  of  a  few  fine  days, 
and  make  sure  of  the  hay  being  very  dry  before 
it  is  housed,  otherwise  moulded  hay,  the  worst 
of  all  others,  will  be  the  consequence.  The  effect 
of  a  sunny  day  on  weather  beaten  hay  is  all  but 
magical ;  and  how  very  commonly  do  we  hear 
impatient  farmers  reproaching  themselves  on 
such  occasions,  and  saying,  "I  wish  I  had  let 
my  hay  stop  out  another  day."  It  is  proverbially 
said  that  "dull  weather  makes  the  richest  hay," 
but  if  good  hay  be  not  made  in  hot  sunny 
weather  let  the  right  horse  be  saddled  with  the 
blame.  If  the  grass  be  stowed  as  soon  as  it  is 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  361 

mowed  on  a  hot  and  bright  day,  as  is  generally 
the  case,  the  juices  being  in  such  a  fluid  state 
they  go  off  by  evaporation,  and  hence  the  de- 
ficient quality  of  the  hay  that  is  generally  made 
in  very  hot  weather.  But  if  the  newly  mown 
grass  be  left  in  the  swath,  say  24  hours,  the  fluids 
attain  a  greater  consistency,  and  assume  a  gummy 
or  oily  nature,  or  in  other  words  "  soak  their 
virtues  into  themselves,"  and  in  consequence 
make  a  much  more  nutritive  fodder  than  if  they 
were  otherwise  exposed  to  the  scorching  rays  of 
the  sun  as  soon  as  they  are  mown.  Good  strow- 
ing  is  so  essential  to  good  haymaking  that  if  it 
be  indifferently  performed  no  after  pains  or  care 
can  remedy  the  defect,  and  a  good  pair  of  hands 
is  the  best  instrument  ever  yet  invented  for  either 
strewing  or  breaking  out ;  but  alas  !  I  fear  back 
bending  is  going  out  of  fashion.  Excepting  when 
the  grass  is  green  or  wet,  rake-cocking  should 
never  be  practiced.  Putting  up  hay  when  it  is 
dry  into  "double-wind-row,"  rake-cock  is  of  all 
others  the  most  slovenly,  and  in  case  of  rain 
ensuing  the  most  "marring."  The  "lap-cock" 
(common  in  plain  and  hilly  districts)  if  put  up 
in  good  order  will  keep  well,  and  resist  all  sorts 
of  unfavourable  weather  longer  than  any  other, 
but  laps  are  difficult  to  make  and  troublesome  to 
shake  out  and  consequently  unpopular. 

Hard  sweat  hay,  though  generally  recom- 
mended for  horses,  is  not  (on  account  of  its 
stringent  qualities)  to  be  preferred  for  horned 
cattle  ;  a  milch  cow  will  both  yield  and  grow 
better,  and  be  more  healthy  when  kept  on  green- 
ish than  dark  brown  hay.  Hay  is  at  the  best 
for  use  when  it  is  from  six  to  twelve  months  old, 


362  GOOSNARGH : 

if  it  be  kept  over  a  year  a  second  sweating  or  fer- 
mentation will  take  place,  and  tend  to  diminish  its 
nutritive  qualities. 

AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

Goosnargh  forms  part  of  the  district  of  an 
Agricultural  Society,  which  was  established  in 
the  year  1839,  and  is  called  "  The  Goosnargh, 
Barton,  Broughton,  Whittingham,  Haighton  and 
Bleasdale  Agricultural  Society."  It  held  annual 
meetings  alternately  at  Goosnargh  and  Brough- 
ton villages,  and  extended  over  the  townships 
which  compose  its  name.  Perhaps  it  is  super- 
fluous to  say  that  agricultural  societies  were 
established  principally  by  the  land  owners  for 
the  improvement  of  agriculture  and  for  the  dis- 
semination of  knowledge  on  agricultural  subjects, 
and  for  the  mutual  good  of  both  owner  and 
occupier  of  the  soil.  And  though  they  may  not 
answer  the  expectation  of  some  of  the  most 
sanguine  of  the  projectors,  and  lay  themselves 
open  to  objection  on  the  score  of  drunkenness 
and  revelling,  and  undoubtedly  if  the  tail  ends 
of  these  societies  could  be  cut  off  without  doing 
injury  to  their  heads,  they  would  be  the  more 
commendable  ;  yet  the  motive  which  instituted, 
and  the  spirit  which  maintained  them  was  beyond 
question  equally  laudable  and  benevolent.  Since 
the  establishment  of  agricultural  societies,  a 
marked  improvement  has  been  effected  in  the 
breed  of  horses,  a  matter  of  the  highest  import- 
ance in  this  and  every  other  agricultural  district. 
And  to  all  who  are  not  already  wise  enough,  the 
"show  day"  is  the  best  and  cheapest  school  for 


PAST  AND   PRESENT.  363 

learning  the  "points"  of  breed  in  all  descriptions 
of  cattle  exhibited. 

For  horned  cattle,  especially  milking  kine, 
this  society  does  not  "  take "  so  well  as  some  of 
its  kindred  neighbours,  perhaps  the  disparity  in 
the  quality  of  the  land  in  the  higher  part  of  the 
district  compared  with  that  in  the  lower  and 
other  local  causes  makes  against  it  in  this  re- 
spect. 

FARMERS   CLUB. 

On  the  26th  November,  1849,  a  meeting  was 
held  at  Broughton  school  for  the  purpose  of 
establishing  a  Farmers  Club  and  Library  ;  James 
German,  Esq.,  the  (then)  Mayor  of  Preston,  in 
the  chair.  When  it  was  resolved  to  establish  a 
Farmers  Club  and  Library,  to  comprise  within 
its  limits  the  Goosnargh  Agricultural  Society's 
District  and  the  townships  of  Fulwood,  Wood- 
plumpton,  Myerscough  and  Bilsborrow,  and  that 
monthly  meetings  be  held  at  the  school-rooms 
at  Broughton,  Goosnargh  and  Barton  alternately, 
for  the  purpose  of  hearing  lectures  and  holding 
discussions  on  agricultural  subjects,  and  that 
2s.  6d.  per  annum  constitute  tenant  farmers 
members  of  the  Farmers  Club  and  Library. 

The  following  names  with  the  donations  and 
annual  subscriptions  attached  were  received  at 
the  said  meeting,  namely  : — 

Annual 

Donations.          Subscriptions. 
£       S.      D.  £      S.     D. 

Charles  Roger  Jacson, 

Esq 20  o  o  i  o  o 

J.  F.  Anderton,  Esq. .  10  o  o  i  o  o 

James  German,  Esq...  10  o  o  i  o  o 


364  GOOSNARGH  : 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1850,  the  donations  to 
the  Library  fund  had  amounted  to  ^"67  ios.,  and 
the  cash  received  from  annual  subscribers  and 
fines  to ^"10  75.  3d.,  making  a  total  of  ^~77  173.  3d. 
which  was  accounted  for  as  follows : — 

£    s.  D. 

Bookcase      ...     ...      586 

Books  and  Stationery 36  19  6 

Librarian's  salary 2  10  o 

Sundry  expenses 2     9  5 

Hands  of  Bankers        30     o  o* 

Hands  of  Treasurer     ...  o     q  10 


£TI  17     3 

The  library  is  established  at  Broughton  village 
and  consists  of  about  100  volumes  of  elementary, 
and  standard  works  on  agriculture,  which  will  no 
doubt  be  of  permanent  advantage  to  the  neigh- 
bourhood. And  at  least  the  farmers'  club  is 
upon  a  good  foundation,  the  meetings  are  away 
from  "the  pipe  and  the  pot,"  and  by  the  rules, 
politics  are  excluded,  hence  good  without  much 
alloy  may  reasonably  be  expected. 

Kind,  forbearing,  courteous  reader,  please  to 
excuse  errors,  and  bear  in  mind  that  it  is  easier 
to  find  fault  with  a  history  than  to  write  one  ; 
and  remember  that  Lord  Bacon  says  it  is  time 
enough  to  criticise  the  works  of  others  when 
you  have  done  some  good  work  yourself. 


*  How  about  the  cash  at  the  bankers  ? 


PAST   AND   PRESENT.  365 

"  Alone  I  walked  on  the  ocean  strand, 
A  pearly  shell  was  in  my  hand, 
I  stooped  and  wrote  upon  the  sand 

My  name,  the  year  and  day  ; 
As  onward  from  the  spot  I  passed, 
One  lingering  look  behind  I  cast, 
A  wave  came  rolling  high  and  fast, 

And  washed  my  lines  away. 
And  so  methought,  'twill  quickly  be 
With  every  mark  on  earth  from  me  ! 
A  wave  of  dark  oblivion's  sea 

Will  sweep  across  the  place 
Where  I  have  trod  the  sandy  shore 
Of  time,  and  been  to  me  no  more  ; 
Of  me,  my  day,  the  name  I  bore, 

To  leave  no  track  or  trace. 
And  yet  with  Him  who  counts  the  sands, 
And  holds  the  water  in  His  hands, 
I  know  a  lasting  record  stands 

Inscribed  against  my  name, 
Of  all  this  mortal  soul  has  wrought, 
Of  all  this  thinking  soul  has  thought, 
And  from  these  fleeting  moments  caught, 

For  glory  or  for  shame." 


FINIS 


I  NDEX. 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Adamson's  Charity  ...  ...  ...  ...   188 

Advice,  Lady  Bacon's  ...  ...  ...  ...  319 

Agricultural  Society  ...  ...  ...  ...  362 

Allotment,  Inequality  of  ...  ...  ...  ...     54 

Ancient  Buildings  ...  ...  ...  ...  296 

Anecdotes            ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  345 

April  Noddy  Day  ...  ...  ...  ...  287 

Assessors              ...  ...  ...  ...  ...     43 

Bacon's,  Lady,  Advice       ...  ...  ...  ...  319 

Barns,  Tithe      "...  ...  ...  ...  ...  313 

Barrow,  Mrs.,  Gift  ...  ...  ...  ...  190 

Bear  Baiting        ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  278 

Beards  ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  311 

Beaton  Fell         ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  324 

Bees      ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  318 

Bell  Ringing       ...  ...  ...  ...  ...     90 

Benefit  Societies...  ...  ...  ...  ...  235 

Bequest,  Parkinson's  ...  ...  ...  ...     33 

Betting...             ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  317 

Bible,  The           ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  320 

Billsticking         ...  ...  ...  ...  ...     89 


37O  INDEX. 


PAGE 

Birds,  Small 

...  265 

Births,  Registrar  of 

45 

Boggarts 

...  284 

Do. 

3" 

Book  Money       ...             ... 

172 

Bridges 

49 

Bridges,  County... 

298 

Broom,  Hanging  out  the  ... 

...  320 

Buildings,  Farm... 

357 

Bull  Baiting 

278 

Burying  without  Coffins    ... 

315 

Bushell,  Dr.,  Monument  ... 

217 

Bushell,  W.,  Tablet 

59 

Bye  ways 

52 

Cakes,  Goosnargh 

345 

Carters'  Language 

317 

Cattle  Plague     ... 

340 

Charities,  Deeds  &c.  of     ... 

...  306 

Charity,  Adamson's 

...  188 

Do.      Colborne's 

...  190 

Do.             do. 

...  196 

Do.      Donor  unknown  ... 

...  189 

Do.      Knowles's 

191 

Do.      Parkinson's 

182 

...  187 

Choir,  Church     ... 

9° 

Christening  Custom 

313 

Christmas  Day    ...             ... 

..  254 

Christmas  Dole  ... 

342 

INDEX.  371 

PAGE 

Church,  Goosnargh           ...  ...  ...  ...     10 

Do.            do.                  ...  ...  ...  ...     54 

Do.            do.         Fees  ...  ...  ...  ...     86 

Do.            do.        Goers,  Hint  to...  ...  ...     91 

Do.            do.        Rates...  ...  ...  ...     88 

Do.            do.        Restoration  of...  ...  ...  121 

Do.            do.        Service  ...  ...  ...     91 

Do.            do.        Terrier  ...  ...  ...  134 

Do.            do.        Tower  ...  ...  ...     62 

Do.            do.        Yard...  ...  ...  ...     67 

Church  Legend  ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  321 

Church  Registers,  Origin  of  ...  ...  ...  314 

Churching  of  Women        ...  ...  ...  ...  313 

Churching  Pew  ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  325 

Churchwardens  ...             ...  ...  ...  ...     42 

Clerk,  Parish       ...             ...  ...  ...  ...     88 

Climate                ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  350 

Clock   ...             ...             ...  ...  ...  ...     81 

Clothing  Clubs  ...             •••  ...  ...  ...  302 

Coal  Fields          ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  284 

Cock  Fighting    ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  278 

Do.         do.          ...  ...  ...  316 

Coffins,  Burying  without  ...  ...  ...__  ...  315 

Collectors            ...             ...  ...  ...  ...     43 

Corn  Mills           ...              ...  ...  ...  ...  345 

Corn  Sheaf  Custom           ...  ...  ...  ...  323 

Coronership        ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  298 

Cotton  Cloth  &c,  Manufacture  of  ...  ...  ...  305 

Court  Leet          ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  255 

Cousins,  First     ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  323 

Cows    ...            ...            ...  ...  ...  ...  357 

X  2 


372  INDEX. 

PAGE 

Cranberry,  &c.    ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  344 

Cropping             ...  ...  ...  352 

Crosses  and  Cross  Stones  ...  ...  ...  ...  294 

Crow  Hall           ...  ...  ...  ...  ...     37 

Cuckoo,  The       ...  ...  ...  ...  ...   323 

Curfew,  The       ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  106 

Custom,  Good  old  ...  ...  ...  ...     89 

Customs,  Good    ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  344 

Do.      Old      ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  328 

Dancing               ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  322 

Deaths,  Registrar  of  ...  ...  ...  ".45 

Deeds  of  Public  Charities,  &c.  ...  ...  ...  306 

Dinner  Service,  Ancient  ...  ...  ...  ...  326 

Dole,  Christmas ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  342 

Do.  John  Lancaster's  ...  ...  ...  ...  202 

Do.  Meal,  Parkinson's  ...  ...  ...  ...  343 

Domesday  Book ...  ...  ...  ...  ...       8 

Do.           do.     ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  257 

Draining              ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  351 

Drinking  Habits...  ...  ...  ...  ...  259 

Drinking              ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  322 

Do.      Pot-house  ...  ...  ...  ...  325 

Easter  Dues        ...  ...  ...  ...  ...     21 

Education            ...  ...  ,.  ...  ...  283 

Enclosures  and  Fences  ...  ...  ...  ...  353 

Excommunication  ...  ...  ...  ...  317 

Extent  ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  ...     13 

Fairies...         '    ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  284 


INDEX.  273 

PAGE 

Fairs,  Inglewhite               ...  ...  ...  ...     16 

Fairy  Rings         ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  321 

Farm  Buildings  ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  357 

Farmers'  Club    ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  363 

Farmers,  Morals  and  Ability  of  ...  ...  ...  349 

Farming,  Essay  on  Goosnargh  ...  ...  ...  348 

Fashions              ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  322 

Fees,  Church      ...            ...  ...  ...  ...     86 

Fences  and  Enclosures      ...  ...  ...  ...  353 

Fish,  Fisheries  and  Fishers  ...  ...  ...  264 

Football               ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  324 

Footings               ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  282 

Friend-made  Matches        ...  ...  ...  ...316 

Fruit  Trees         ...            ...  ...  ...  ...  356 

Funerals  and  Funeral  Reform  ...  ...  ...  244 

Game    ...             ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  262 

Gentlemen's  Seats              ...  ...  ...  ...  247 

Gift,  Grace  Shakeshaft's    ...  ...  ...  ...  189 

Do.  Mrs.  Barrow's            ...  ...  ...  ...   190 

Gipsies...             ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  309 

Glasses,  Hour      ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  314 

Good  Old  Times               ...  ...  ...  ...  322 

Goosnargh           ...             ...  ...  ...  ...     96 

Do.        Ancient  Lords  of  ...  ...  ...     n 

Do.        Cakes              ...  ...  ...  ...  345 

Do.        Church           ...  ...  ...  ...     10 

Do.            do.               ...  ...  ...  ...     54 

Do.         Division  of     ...  ...  ...  ...     37 

Do.        Extent            ...  ...  ...  ...     13 

Do.         Guardian         ...  ...  ...  ...     38 


374  INDEX. 

PAGE 

Goosnargh  Hospital          ...  ...  ...  ...  202 

Do.        How  Bounded  ...  ...  ...  8 

Do.         Mill  Lane       ...  ...  ...  ...  51 

Do.        Past  and  Present  ...  ...  ...  7 

Do.         Patrons  of      ...  ...  ...  ...  67 

Do.         Population     ...  ...  ...  ...  13 

Do.        Seventy  Years  Ago  ...  ...  ...  337 

Do.        Taxes              ...  ...  ...  ...  14 

Do.         Valuation        ...  ...  ...  ...  14 

Do.        Village            ...  ...  ...  ...  279 

Grocer's  Shops    ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  260 

Gunpowder  Plot...            ...  ...  ...  ...  253 

Hanging  out  the  Broom   ... 

Hard  Times 

Harvest,  Hay 

Harvest  and  Seed  Time   ... 

Hat,  going  round  with 

High  Roads 

Hill  Chapel 

Hint  to  Church  Goers 

Homilies,  The    ... 

Horses 

Horse  Shoe  Superstition  ... 

Hospital,  Goosnargh 

Do.  do.         Library 

Hour  Glasses 

House  for  Schoolmistress... 
Hunting  and  Coursing     ... 

Inglewhite  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...     16 


INDEX.  375 

PAGE 

Inglewhite  Chapel             ...            ...  ...  ...  152 

Do.        Cross,  Distances  from    ...  ...  ...     12 

Do.  Fairs  ...  ...  ...  ...  16 

Iron  Pen,  Writing  with     ...  ...  ...  ...   323 

Jury  List             ...            ...            ...  ...  ...  278 

Knowles'  Charity               ...  ...  ...  ...  191 

Lady  Bacon's  advice          ...  ...  ...  ...  319 

Land,  How  held  and  let    ...  ...  ...  ...  349 

Land  Owners      ...             ...  ...  ...  ...     37 

Lands,  Waste      ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  289 

Lancaster's  John,  Dole      ...  ...  ...  ...  202 

Language,  Carters'            ...  ...  ...  ...317 

Larking               ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  319 

Leaf  Superstition                ...  ...  ...  ...  313 

Legend,  Goosnargh  Church  ...  ...  ...  321 

Library                 ...              ...  ...  ...  ...171 

Do.     Goosnargh  Hospital  ...  ...  ...  217 

Do.     School  Lending   ...  ...  ...  ...  301 

Lifting,  Old  custom  of      ...  ...  ...  ...  312 

Longevity         ...                ...  ...  ...  ...  345 

Lord  of  the  Manor             ...  ...  ...  ...     15 

Lords,  Ancient,  of  Goosnargh  ...  ...  ...     n 

Magpie  Superstition         ...  ...  ...  ...  325 

Manor,  Lord  of  ...             ...  ...  ...  ...     15 

Manufacture  of  Cotton  Cloth  &c.    ...  ...  ...305 

Manures               ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  355 

Marl     ...             ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  327 


376  INDEX. 

PAGE 

Marling,               ...             ...  ...  ...  •••  355 

Marriage  in  time  of  Oliver  Cromwell  ...  ...  3J9 

Do.     Custom,  old        ...  ...  ...  ...  322 

Matches,  Friend  made       ...  ...  ...  ...  316 

May  Bough  Night             ...  ...  ...  ...287 

Meal  Dole,  Parkinson's  Charity  ...  ...  ...  343 

Men,  Maids,  and  Matrons  ...  ...  ...  275 

Middleton  Pew  ...            ...  ...  ...  ...     64 

Mill  Lane,  Goosnargh       ...  ...  ...  ...     51 

Mills,  Corn          ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  345 

Mistletoe             ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  316 

Moles  and  Mole  Catching  ...  ...  ...  290 

Monument,  Dr.  Bushell's  ...  ...  ...  ...  217 

Morals  ...              ...              ...  ...  ...  ...  284 

Moss  or  Peat      ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  306 

Moultre               ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  321 

Names  of  the  24  Men        ...  ...  ...  ...  131 

Names,  Pet         ...            ...  ...  ...  ...  317 

Newhouse  Chapel               ...  ...  ...  ...  157 

Newsham,  Hamlet  of        ...  ...  ...  ...     23 

Do.         Roads               ...  ...  ...  ...     53 

Oath,  Vestryman's             ...  ...  ...  ...   106 

Old  Chapel          ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  157 

Old  Customs       ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  328 

Old  Halls            ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  296 

Old  Marriage  Custom       ...  ...  ...  ...  322 

Old  Prices           ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  327 

Old  Times,  Good               ...  ...  ...  ...  322 

Out  Townships,  Land  belonging  to  ...  ...  327 


INDEX.  377 

PAGE 

Overseers  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...     40 

Do.       Assistant  ...  ...  ...  ...     41 

Owners,  Land      ...  ...  ...  ...  ...     37 

Pace  or  Peace  Egging       ...  ...  ...  . 

Paint,  John  Evelyn  on      ...  ...  ...  . 

Parish  Affairs      ...  ...  ...  ...  . 

Do.     Clerk        ...  ...  ...  ...  . 

Do.     Registers... 
Parker,  J.  B.,  Tablet 
Parkinson's  Bequest 
„  Charity 

Patronage  of  Church          ...  ... 

Patrons  of  Goosnargh 

Pauperism 

Peat  or  Moss 

Pet  Names 

Pew,  Middleton  ... 

Pin  Fold  

Poaching 
Police,  Rural 
Population 
Post  Office 
Post,  Penny 
Potatoes 

Pot-house  Drinking 
Preface... 
Presents,  Wedding 
Prices,  Old 
Professed  Religion 
Proverbs 


378  INDEX. 

PAGE 

Public  Houses     ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  259 

Punishments,  Ancient        ...  ...  ...  ...  248 

Rain     ...             ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  35* 

Rearings              ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  282 

Recipe  for  Mange  &c.       ...  ...  ...  ...  327 

Registers,  Origin  of  Church  ...  ...  ...  314 

Registers,  Parish                ...  ...  ...  ...  221 

Registrar  of  Births  and  Deaths  ...  ...  ...     45 

Do.      Deputy              ...  ...  ...  ...     46 

Relieving  Officers              ...  ...  ...  ...     44 

Religion,  Professed            ...  ...  ...  ...  277 

Rental...            ...            ...  ...  ...  ...  353 

Rents,  Standish  School     ...  ...  ...  ...  288 

Restoration  of  Church       ...  ...  ...  ...  121 

Riding  the  Stang               ...  ...  ...  ...  308 

Roads,  Surveyors  of          ...  ...  ...  ...     47 

Do.     High       ...             ...  ...  ...  ...     48 

Do.      Do.     How  laid  out  ...  ...  ...     48 

Do.      Do.     How  repaired  ...  ...  ...     48 

Do.     Marks     ...            *...  ...  ...  ...     52 

Do.     Metalling  of          ...  ...  ...  ...     50 

Do.     Newsham               ...  ...  ...  ...     53 

Do.     Township               ...  ...  ...  ...     49 

Robin  Red-breast               ...  ...  ...  ...  316 

Rookeries  and  Rooks            ...  ...  ...  ...  265 

Rural  Police           ...  ...  ...  294 

Sanderson,  Ann  ...             ...  ...  ...  ...     72 

School,  Free        ...            ...  ...  ...  ...  160 

Do.      Do.     Grammar    ...  ...  ...  ...  163 


INDEX.  379 

PACK 

School,  Boys'      ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  165 

Do.    Girls'       ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  167 

Do.    Lending  Library  ...  ...  ...  ...  301 

Schoolmistress,  House  for  ...  ...  ...  171 

Scraps,  Odd        ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  307 

Seats,  Gentlemen's            ...  ...  ...  ...  247 

Second  Sight      ...             ...  ..  ...  ...  309 

Seed  Time  and  Harvest    ...  ...  ...  ...  359 

Select  Vestry      ...             ...  ...  ...  ...     47 

Selling  a  Wife    ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  317 

Servants  and  Wages          ...  ...  ...  ...  356 

Seventy  Years  Ago           ...  ...  ...  ...  337 

Sexton                  ...             ...  ...  ...  ...     89 

Shakeshaft's,  Grace,  Gift  ...  ...  ...  ...   189 

Sheep 358 

Shoe  Throwing  ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  312 

Shrove  Tuesday ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  285 

Sidgreaves,  J.  Tablet         ...  ...  ...  ...     60 

Sign  Posts           ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  326 

Silos     ...             ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  323 

Small  Birds         ...             ...  *..  ...  ...  265 

Snuff...                 ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  262 

Societies,  Benefit                ...  ...  ...•  ...  235 

Soil       ...             ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  350 

Sports,  Sunday  ...           .  ...  ...  ...  ...  273 

St.  Anne's  Well...             ...  ...  ...  ...341 

Standish  School  Rents      ...  ...  ...  ...  288 

Stang,  Riding  the              ...  ...  ...  ...  308 

Stone  Crosses     ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  294 

Stone  Quarries    ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  306 

Sub  Soil              ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  350 


380  INDEX. 

PAGR 

Sun  Dial              ...              ..  ...  ...  ...     78 

Sunday  School    ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  298 

Sunday  Sports    ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  273 

Superstition,  Horse  Shoe  ...  ...  ...  ...  318 

Do.          Leaf             ...  ...  ...  ...  313 

Do.          Magpie        ...  ...  ...  ...  325 

Surveyors  of  the  Roads     ...  ...  ...  •••47 

Taxation  of  Township       ...  ...  ...  ...     99 

Taxes    ...             ...             ...  ...  ...  ...     14 

Teanley  Night    ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  298 

Terrier,  Church  ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  134 

Thorn,  White     ...            ...  ...  ...  ...318 

Timber...             ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  344 

Do 354 

Tithe  Barns         ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  313 

Tithes,  Great      ...            ...  ...  ...  ...     18 

Do.     Origin  of                ...  ...  ...  ...     19 

Do.     Small      ...             ...  ...  ...  ...     21 

Toads  ...             ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  324 

Tobacco               ...           *...  ...  261 

Tombstones,  Inscriptions  on  ...  ...  ...     69 

Tower,  The  Church           ...  ...  ...  ...     62 

Trade  ...             ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  255 

Do.      ...             ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  282 

Twenty-four  Men,  Names  of  ...  ...  ...  103 

Do.                do.  ...  ...  ...  131 

Valentine's  Day ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  278 

Valuation            ...             ...  ...  ...  ...     14 

Vestry  Book        ...             ...  ...  ...  ...     95 


INDEX.  381 


PAGE 


Vestryman's  Oath              ...  ...  ...  ...  106 

Vicarage,  The     ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  94 

Wages  and  Servants          ...  ...  ...  ...  355 

Waring's  Charity               ...  ...  ...  ...  187 

Waste  Lands       ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  289 

Waterworks      ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  326 

Weather               ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  326 

Weather  Chronicle            ...  ...  ...  ...  320 

Wedding  Presents              ...  ...  ...  ...  324 

Well,  St.  Ann's  ...             ...  ...  ...  ...341 

Wesleyan  Chapel ...  ...  ...  159 

Whitechapel  Church          ...  ...  ...  ...  134 

Do.         Queen's  Bounty  ...  ...  ...  137 

Do.          Rebuilding   ...  ...  ...  ...  138 

Do.              Do.        Condition  of  ...  ...  141 

Do.        School           ...  ...  ...  ...  173 

Do.         Sun  Dial        ...  ...  ...  ...  150 

White  Thorn       ...             ...  ...  ...  ...  318 

Wife,  Selling      ...             ..,  ...  ...  ...  317 

Will  o'  the  Wisp                ...           "...  ...  ...  315 

Woodhouse,  Rev.  Jno.      ...  ...  ...  ...  119 

Yew  Trees  in  Church  Yards  ...  ...  ...  314 


PRINTED   RY   H.   OAKEY,   36,  FISHERGATE,   PRESTON. 


LATELY  PUBLISHED, 

NINE     HUNDRED     AND    NINETY-NINE 
THOUGHTS, 

On  various  Subjects,  or 

HOW  TO  BE  HAPPY  &  MAKE  OTHERS 
HAPPY, 

BY  RICHARD  COOKSON,  of  Goosnargh, 
Author  of  the  "  Goosnargh  Rambler"  &c. 


The  Book  contains  317  pages  (F'cap  octavo)  of 
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